Nghe An: Promote vaccination, proactively prevent and control epidemics

Fall Campaign is highly effective

Compared to half a month ago, it can be seen that Nghe An has significantly improved the rate of people vaccinated against Covid-19, especially the number of people vaccinated with the 3rd and 4th doses. Specifically, as of August 15, 2022, Nghe An only had 41.3% of people over 18 years old vaccinated with the 4th dose; 50.6% of children from 12 to 17 years old vaccinated with the 3rd dose; 74.2% of children from 5 to 11 years old vaccinated with the 1st dose and 37.7% of children from 5 to 11 years old vaccinated with the 2nd dose.

Covid-19 vaccination for children aged 5 to 11 in Nghe An. Photo: Thanh Chung

Thus, at this point, Nghe An has achieved the vaccination rate as directed by the Government; basically exceeding the average vaccination rate of the whole country.

The only index in which Nghe An is lower than the national average is the rate of second dose of Covid-19 vaccine for children aged 5 to 11... Explaining this, Dr. Chu Trong Trang - Deputy Director in charge of the Provincial Center for Disease Control said: Currently, there are still about 50,000 children aged 5 to 11 who have not received the second dose because the Ministry of Health has not imported and distributed Moderna vaccine to the locality. When fully supplied, Nghe An will certainly increase this rate.

Also according to Dr. Trang: The reason why Nghe An, from not reaching the vaccination rate as directed by the Government, after half a month has risen to become one of the leading localities in the country in terms of vaccination rate is thanks to the good implementation of all levels, sectors and localities.Covid-19 Vaccination Fall Campaign" launched by the province. All levels, sectors and localities have been very responsible in directing and implementing the campaign, organizing vaccination and mobilizing people to get vaccinated.

The “Autumn Covid-19 Vaccination Campaign” launched by Nghe An province took place from August 15 to August 21. The whole province has completed the injection of nearly 300,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine for the subjects. Vaccination takes place 24/7 at commune health stations. Medical units have created the most favorable conditions for people to get vaccinated; arranged mobile vaccination points in industrial parks and remote areas.

Dr. Chu Trong Trang also affirmed: The effectiveness of the "Autumn Covid-19 Vaccination Campaign" is very clear. In the context that new infections and severe cases in Vietnam are increasing rapidly, in Nghe An, they have decreased significantly. If at the end of July and early August 2022, the average number of new infections per day in Nghe An was approximately 200 cases, then by the end of August 2022, the number of new infections was less than 100 cases/day (there were days when the number of new infections was less than 50 cases); there were no additional deaths.

Strengthen vaccination against polio, measles - rubella

Promoting the achievements, in the coming time, Nghe An will continue to focus on, direct and effectively implement the Covid-19 vaccination to proactively prevent and control the Covid-19 epidemic. In addition, the province will also promote vaccination against other dangerous infectious diseases, including diseases such aspolio, measles and rubella.

Giving children polio vaccine. Photo: Document

In the past 2 years (2020-2021), the Covid-19 pandemic has caused widespread disruption of routine vaccination, greatly affecting the vaccination rate in Nghe An. This is a risk factor that creates favorable conditions for polio to return. In addition, large-scale measles outbreaks with a cycle of 3-4 years/time may recur in 2022 and 2023 in the locality.

Faced with the risk of polio, measles and rubella epidemics returning, on August 31, Nghe An Department of Health issued a plan to implement a supplementary vaccination campaign with oral polio vaccine for children aged 1-5 and measles-rubella vaccine for children aged 3-5 to protect the achievements of polio eradication and proactively prevent and control measles and rubella epidemics.

The plan states: Accordingly, in the third and fourth quarters of 2022, all children aged 1 to 5 years in high-risk areas will receive 2 doses of polio vaccine (regardless of previous history of vaccination with polio vaccine or combination vaccine containing anti-polio components; except for children who have received polio vaccine within 1 month before the implementation of supplementary vaccination). It is expected that 118,870 children aged 1 to 5 years will receive 2 doses of polio vaccine.

In areas at high risk of measles, all children aged 3 to 5 years will be vaccinated with 1 dose of measles-rubella vaccine (regardless of previous vaccination history with measles vaccine, measles-rubella vaccine, measles-mumps-rubella vaccine; except for children who have been vaccinated with measles vaccine, measles-rubella vaccine, measles-mumps-rubella vaccine within 1 month before the supplementary vaccination is implemented). It is expected that 23,685 children aged 3 to 5 years will be vaccinated with 1 dose of measles-rubella vaccine.

Pharmacist Tran Minh Tue - Deputy Director of Nghe An Department of Health said: The Health sector has directed and clearly guided the steps and roadmap for implementing the polio, measles and rubella vaccination plan from investigation, making a list of subjects to providing vaccines, communicating and coordinating vaccination organization... Nghe An Department of Health hopes that all people will proactively take their children to be fully vaccinated to effectively prevent diseases.

Nghe An Department of Health also requested the Department of Education and Training to direct the Department of Education and Training of districts, towns and cities to guide schools in the area to closely coordinate with the local health sector in developing plans, reviewing, making lists of subjects and arranging support personnel and locations to implement the vaccination campaign at schools in the area.

Propose that the People's Committees of districts, towns and cities develop plans to implement the polio and measles-rubella vaccination campaign for children in 2022 in the locality; mobilize departments, branches and organizations to participate in propaganda, mobilization and participation in the polio and measles-rubella vaccination campaign for children in many suitable and diverse forms./.