Keep a close eye on the situation and proactively prevent measles.

(QBĐT) - Although the measles situation in the province is not too "hot", we should not be subjective or negligent. The Quang Binh Health Department has proactively implemented measures to control the spread of measles in the area. The following is an exchange between Director of the Department of Health Duong Thanh Binh and reporters (PV) of Quang Binh Newspaper about this content.

- Reporter: Sir, it is known that measles has been quite complicated nationwide since the beginning of the year. What is the main cause of this situation?

- Mr. Duong Thanh Binh: Since the beginning of 2025, the country has recorded about 40,000 suspected measles cases and 5 measles-related deaths. There are 3 reasons for the increase in measles this year, of which the low vaccination rate is considered a key factor.

On the morning of March 26, 2025, Duc Ninh Commune Health Station (Dong Hoi City) began implementing a measles vaccination campaign.

In addition, due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic for 2 years, vaccination rates have decreased sharply and the supply of measles-rubella vaccines in the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) has also been interrupted, causing the vaccination coverage rate to fall short of requirements.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), to eliminate measles, the vaccination rate needs to reach at least 95%. However, in Vietnam, in 2024, the first injection rate for 9-month-old children will only reach 87.4%, the second injection rate for 18-month-old children will reach 97.7%, while many localities will only reach about 50% of essential vaccines, creating a worrying immunity gap. The slow implementation of vaccination compared to the spread of the disease has weakened community immunity, creating the risk of a strong outbreak.

In addition, fear of vaccination after the pandemic, concerns about vaccine safety, limited access to services in remote areas and the increase in home births also prevent many children from being vaccinated in time.

- Reporter: What is the measles vaccination rate in Quang Binh in recent years, sir?

- Mr. Duong Thanh Binh: According to statistics, in Quang Binh, the results of measles vaccination in 2020, 2021, and 2024 met the planned targets of the National Immunization Program.

For the health of children and the community, parents need to take their children for full vaccinations on schedule.

In 2022 and 2023, the results were lower than the set target due to a number of objective issues: the Covid-19 pandemic and the disruption of national vaccine supply. In the first two months of 2025, the measles vaccination rate reached 14.3% and the MR (measles-rubella) vaccine reached 12.5%.

- Reporter: What has the health sector done to implement Official Dispatch No. 23/CD-TTG, dated March 15, 2025 of the Prime Minister and the direction of the Provincial People's Committee in Official Dispatch No. 422/UBND-NCVX on accelerating vaccination to prevent and control measles?

- Mr. Duong Thanh Binh: The Department of Health has advised the Provincial People's Committee to issue a plan to implement a measles vaccination campaign in the province. The sector has issued documents directing the strengthening of measles prevention and control; an official dispatch to strengthen the implementation of the EPI Program in the whole province, in which it directs localities and units to effectively implement the EPI Program, carry out catch-up vaccinations and catch-up vaccinations for subjects who have not been vaccinated or have not been fully vaccinated; review subjects and propose measles vaccine needs.

This time, Quang Binh proactively proposed vaccine needs and was allocated by the Ministry of Health, including: 4,500 doses of measles vaccine for children aged 6-9 months; 12,640 doses of MR vaccine for children aged 1-5 years and 8,840 doses of MR vaccine for children aged 6-10 years.

In addition, the sector has strengthened information, communication, propaganda and mobilization of people, especially in remote, border, island and ethnic minority areas, to proactively implement measures to prevent and control measles and to vaccinate children fully and on schedule according to the instructions of the health sector.

Parents need to take their children to get the measles vaccine fully and on schedule.

- Reporter: Sir, the measles situation in the province is currently stable, but the situation in some localities across the country is quite "hot". With the spirit of proactive prevention, what will the industry do to control the spread of measles?

- Mr. Duong Thanh Binh: From the beginning of 2025 to now, the province has recorded 114 suspected measles cases (of which 73 cases tested positive for measles). At the beginning of 2025, as soon as there was information about the increase in measles in some areas, the industry implemented measures to control and prevent outbreaks, such as: Conducting community epidemiological investigations; organizing vaccinations to prevent and control measles; raising public awareness, etc.

Up to now, the situation has basically stabilized, however, we should not be negligent or subjective. In the face of the complicated developments of measles in the country and around the world, the Department of Health has focused on directing the implementation of the vaccination plan to prevent and control measles in the province. Currently, 8 districts, towns and cities are accelerating the implementation of the vaccination campaign to complete before March 31, 2025.

In addition, the sector proactively monitors and closely follows the measles situation nationwide and in the province to take timely response measures; continues to coordinate with sectors and localities to strengthen information, communication, propaganda, and mobilize people to implement measures to prevent and control measles and fully vaccinate their children. At the same time, directs medical facilities to proactively monitor suspected measles rash fever cases, strictly implement the work of admitting and treating patients with measles and suspected measles rash fever according to the instructions of the Ministry of Health.

- Reporter: Thank you!

Huong Le (performed)

Source: https://www.baoquangbinh.vn/suc-khoe/202503/bam-sat-tinh-hinh-chu-dong-phong-ngua-benh-soi-2225219/