Nghe An launches polio, measles-rubella vaccination campaign for children

ParalysisMeasles and rubella are dangerous infectious diseases that spread rapidly and can cause large-scale epidemics. These diseases are common in children and have many dangerous complications, such as: Polio causes irreversible paralysis; measles causes secondary infections such as pneumonia, otitis media; congenital rubella syndrome... seriously affecting the physical and mental development of children.

Giving children polio vaccine. Photo source: Internet

In 2 years (2020-2021), the serviceCovid-19has 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, 2023.

With this risk, 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.

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.

Nghe An Department of Health requested the Department of Education and Training to direct the Department of Education and Training of districts, towns and cities to direct 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.