Deploying many solutions to prevent complications when vaccinating children

(Baonghean.vn)- Voters in some localities expressed concern about the recent situation of vaccines given to children in some places causing dangerous side effects. They requested that the health sector should have strict management solutions to reassure the people.

The competent authority responded to this issue as follows:

The issue that voters are concerned about is well-founded. In recent years, in the whole country in general and Nghe An in particular, there have been a number of serious adverse events after vaccination, some of which have even led to death.

In particular, since 2010, when Quinvaxem vaccine (5 in 1) was introduced to prevent diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type B, the rate of post-vaccination complications has tended to increase. From 2010 to present, Nghe An province has used 1,035,196 doses of Quinvaxem vaccine and recorded 6 cases of serious complications leading to death (accounting for 5.8/1 million doses).

Registering for vaccination for children at SAFPO Nghe An vaccination room, illustrative photo

According to statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO), the rate of serious adverse events with Quinvaxem is from 1 to 20/million doses. Therefore, WHO still encourages Vietnam to use Quinvaxem to vaccinate children.

In recent times, the Department of Health has implemented many important solutions to limit adverse events, especially to minimize serious adverse events after vaccination leading to death, specifically:

- Issue many documents directing medical facilities with vaccination rooms to strictly implement regulations on vaccination safety.

- Organize the assessment and grant certificates of qualified vaccination facilities to 530 medical facilities from provincial hospitals to commune health stations with vaccination rooms. Units granted certificates must meet the conditions for vaccination safety as prescribed in Circular No. 12/2014/TT-BYT dated March 20, 2014 of the Ministry of Health on guidelines for vaccine management and use in vaccination (Only facilities granted certificates of qualified vaccination are allowed to vaccinate children).

Expanded immunization at Cam Son Commune Health Station (Anh Son), documentary photo, illustration

- Organize training and issue certificates of participation in vaccination safety classes for 100% of vaccination staff at facilities with vaccination rooms (Only staff with certificates of vaccination safety are allowed to vaccinate children).

- Ensure proper implementation of vaccination procedures, in which screening must be carried out seriously to detect cases that are indicated for vaccination postponement (congenital heart disease, acute illness, low birth weight...).

Respond to superiors, local authorities and families, and draw lessons for continued implementation.

PV (TH)