Over 2 million women of childbearing age will receive free measles-rubella vaccination

On July 31, Dr. Duong Thi Hong, Deputy Director of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, said that the measles-rubella vaccination campaign for children aged 1-14 years old currently has about 3 million doses of vaccine left over and this number will be used to vaccinate more than 2 million women of childbearing age (15-35 years old).

Accordingly, this number of vaccines will be given priority to women of childbearing age in high-risk areas, border areas, workers in industrial parks, export processing zones, areas with large population fluctuations, areas with complicated epidemiological developments...

According to Dr. Hong, instead of having to get a booster shot like in children, adults only need to get one measles-rubella shot to prevent the disease. After getting vaccinated, pregnant women are also protected from the risk of getting measles-rubella.

In particular, rubella is very harmful to the fetus in the first months of pregnancy. Monitoring results at 3 central hospitals in 2011-2012 recorded 300 children with congenital rubella syndrome due to mothers infected with rubella during pregnancy.

Accordingly, if you are pregnant in the early months of pregnancy (especially the first 3 months of pregnancy) and unfortunately contract rubella, abortion is almost certain because the rubella virus can cause dangerous birth defects, causing the child to be born deaf, have congenital heart disease, cataracts, slow motor development, brittle bone disease, etc.

Therefore, according to Ms. Hong, expanding vaccination coverage among women of childbearing age in high-risk areas will limit the risk of children being born with birth defects due to mothers having rubella.

The indications for injection are also clearly stated, accordingly, pregnant women will be excluded and it is recommended that women who are injected should wait at least 3 months after the injection before getting pregnant.

The Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology is currently developing a plan and detailed instructions to submit to the Ministry's leaders. Localities are also planning to review and select appropriate vaccination targets. It is expected that measles-rubella vaccination for women of childbearing age will be implemented in the fourth quarter of 2015, with efforts to vaccinate as soon as possible to prevent epidemics in the winter-spring season.

Previously, the largest measles-rubella vaccination campaign for children aged 1-14 years old was launched. After the measles-rubella vaccination campaign was launched for all children aged 1-14 years old nationwide, the measles epidemic has decreased significantly. In the first 7 months of this year, the country recorded only 80 measles cases scattered in 37 provinces and cities; no measles outbreaks were recorded.

Previously, the measles-rubella combination vaccine was also included in the National Immunization Program for free vaccination for children 18 months old.

The Ministry of Health also recommends that in order to maintain the results of this campaign, mothers need to remember to vaccinate their children on schedule. Because every year, millions of children are born, if not fully vaccinated, a "trough" will form where children do not have immunity to prevent diseases, and the disease can easily return.

According to dantri.com.vn