Implementing the measles vaccination plan and measles vaccine

On April 5, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long said that since late 2013 and early 2014, a number of countries in the world and in the region have recorded an increase in measles cases compared to previous years. Vietnam has recorded over 5,000 suspected measles cases in 59 provinces and cities.

The age group most affected by the disease is young children who have not been vaccinated against measles or have not received enough doses of the vaccine as prescribed. To proactively prevent measles, localities have actively deployed many epidemic prevention measures and implemented the measles vaccination plan and measles vaccination plan issued by the Ministry of Health.

Vaccination is an effective measure to prevent measles. Illustration photo: DT

However, up to now, the number of measles cases in many localities has tended to decrease slowly. In particular, during this epidemic, many deaths have been recorded in young children with measles due to co-infection with other viruses or having other diseases but also contracting measles.

Faced with that situation, on April 5, 2014, the Ministry of Health issued Official Dispatch No. 1696/CD-BYT to the Chairmen of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities on strengthening measles prevention and implementing the "Plan to implement measles vaccination and measles vaccination".

Accordingly, the Ministry of Health requested the Chairmen of the People's Committees of provinces and cities to resolutely direct the vaccination of measles and other vaccines in the Expanded Immunization Program; especially the "Plan to implement vaccination against measles epidemics and vaccination of measles vaccines".

The Ministry of Health also assigned responsibility to relevant agencies in reviewing, urging, avoiding missing vaccination subjects, and ensuring vaccination safety in accordance with regulations.

Chairmen of People's Committees of provinces and cities direct relevant agencies to increase the dissemination of messages on measles and other epidemic prevention on mass media; increase propaganda to parents about the importance of vaccination to ensure children are fully vaccinated.

Medical facilities in the area must prepare facilities and equipment well, ensure adequate medicine for patient treatment, especially maternity and pediatric hospitals and pediatric departments of general hospitals; limit the transfer of cases within their professional capacity to avoid spreading the disease; and carry out quarantine well at medical facilities.

Chairmen of People's Committees of provinces and cities shall fully arrange local funding, human resources, equipment and materials to continue to strongly implement epidemic prevention activities, especially the Plan to deploy measles vaccination and safe and effective measles vaccination.

Measles is an acute infectious disease caused by the measles virus, which is easily spread and can cause large epidemics; the disease can cause many dangerous complications such as otitis media, pneumonia, diarrhea, dry corneal ulcers, encephalitis, which can easily lead to death. In order to further strengthen the prevention of measles, the Ministry of Health recommends that parents implement 4 contents including:

1. Proactively take all children in the vaccination age group from 9 to 24 months who have not been vaccinated or have not received enough doses of measles vaccine to vaccination facilities to receive measles vaccine according to the measles epidemic vaccination plan and to vaccinate against measles.

2. For children of vaccination age, it is necessary to take them to vaccination facilities to be fully vaccinated on schedule against diseases for which vaccines are available, including measles vaccine.

3. When detecting signs of fever, cough, runny nose, rash, take the child to a medical facility early for timely examination and treatment to prevent complications and serious progression of measles.

4. Measles is highly contagious, do not let children get close to or come into contact with children suspected of having measles. Regularly apply general preventive measures such as washing hands frequently with soap when caring for children, ensuring nutritional measures and other preventive measures as recommended by health authorities.

According to the Communist Party of Vietnam