Ministry of Health urgently requests measles prevention, not to let the disease spread

The Department of Disease Prevention, Ministry of Health requested to strengthen measles prevention work in Quang Nam and support measles vaccination for the community.

The Department of Disease Prevention, Ministry of Health requested to strengthen measles prevention work in Quang Nam and support measles vaccination for the community.

The Department of Disease Prevention has just issued an official dispatch requesting the Nha Trang Pasteur Institute and the Quang Nam Department of Health to take urgent measures to strengthen measles prevention in Quang Nam province.

The Department of Disease Prevention also requested the Department of Health to coordinate with the Nha Trang Pasteur Institute in supplementing vaccines if necessary and increasing communication on measles prevention to the community, especially for ethnic minorities.

This move comes amid a complicated measles outbreak with many confirmed and suspected cases, especially in densely populated areas. The implementation of the measles vaccination campaign has encountered many difficulties and has not progressed as expected.

According to information from the Department of Disease Prevention, the measles epidemic in Quang Nam is still unpredictable, especially with two suspected deaths due to measles occurring at home. Therefore, the Department requires relevant units to urgently implement specific measures to strengthen the prevention and control of this epidemic.

The Department of Disease Prevention requested the Department of Health of Quang Nam province to speed up the implementation of the measles vaccination campaign in 2025 in the area.

The goal is to complete the injection of 20,000 doses of vaccine allocated to the province by March 25, 2025, prioritizing vaccination for children in districts with many cases or suspected cases of measles. At the same time, the Department of Health needs to continue implementing expanded immunization activities, organizing catch-up vaccinations, and catch-up vaccinations against measles for children who have not been vaccinated or have not received enough doses.

In addition, the Department of Disease Prevention emphasized that flexible vaccination methods such as mobile vaccination and home vaccination should be applied in high-risk areas, helping to quickly cover vaccines and achieve community immunity.

Localities must not let the lack of funding, medical supplies, or medical personnel delay vaccination. If there are difficulties, the Department of Health must report to the Chairman of the Quang Nam Provincial People's Committee for timely resolution.

Propaganda needs to diversify its forms and content to encourage people to vaccinate their children and seek timely medical treatment when there are signs of measles.

The Pasteur Institute of Nha Trang is also required to strengthen monitoring and coordination with provinces in the region to ensure that vaccines are fully and promptly distributed. In particular, the Institute needs to review and summarize the allocation and use of 56,060 doses of Measles-Rubella vaccine issued in Decision No. 271/QD-BYT dated January 22, 2025, and coordinate vaccines among localities to ensure effective use.

The Pasteur Institute also needs to continue to guide and urge Quang Nam province in implementing the measles vaccination campaign.

At the same time, coordinate with the Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology to provide enough vaccines for subjects under the Expanded Immunization Program and organize catch-up and catch-up vaccinations for children who have not been vaccinated or have not received enough doses of vaccine.

A notable point in the dispatch of the Department of Disease Prevention is the application of technology in the work of preventing and fighting measles. Medical units need to increase remote medical examination and treatment activities, and at the same time establish technical support groups via social networks to help commune health stations and village health stations in mountainous areas with difficult transportation to receive support from doctors at higher levels.

For hard-to-reach villages with many children infected or suspected of having measles, the Department requires the establishment of temporary medical teams in the villages to speed up vaccination, detect new cases and care for children.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has assessed the risk of a measles outbreak in Vietnam as very high and recommended that provinces and cities at high and very high risk, as well as places with current measles clusters, should launch a vaccination campaign.

According to statistics, in 2024, Vietnam recorded 7,583 positive cases of measles, including 16 deaths related to the disease.

Measles is on the rise in many countries around the world, especially in the Asia-Pacific region. Some countries such as the Philippines and Malaysia have recorded widespread measles outbreaks.

The World Health Organization (WHO) assesses the risk of a measles outbreak in Vietnam as very high. WHO recommends that provinces and cities at high and very high risk, as well as localities with measles clusters, immediately launch a vaccination campaign.

According to the Ministry of Health, the measles vaccination campaign is being expanded and implemented in many localities. The campaign and catch-up vaccination for children in high-risk provinces and cities will be urgently carried out to prevent the measles epidemic from spreading further.

In 2024, the country recorded 45,554 suspected cases of measles, including 7,583 positive cases, and 16 deaths. In particular, children under 9 months of age had a high incidence rate, accounting for about 25% of the total number of positive cases.

WHO recommends that the age of measles vaccination in countries with measles outbreaks is to give the first dose at 9 months of age and the second dose at 15-18 months of age. In countries that have eliminated measles, give the first dose at 12 months of age and the second dose at 15-18 months of age.

In addition, WHO also recommends a booster dose of measles vaccine for children aged 6 to under 9 months in high-risk areas. This booster dose will help protect children when measles outbreaks are on the rise.

Based on the risk assessment and current epidemic situation, the Ministry of Health has planned to expand the measles vaccination campaign for children aged 1-10 years in high-risk areas in 2025. At the same time, a supplementary vaccination campaign will also be implemented for children aged 6-9 months.

According to this plan, vaccination will be carried out in 24 provinces and cities to increase community immunity and prevent epidemics. Localities with complicated epidemic situations need to immediately implement vaccination to minimize the risk of measles outbreaks.

Health experts stress that vaccination is the only way to protect children from measles and its dangerous complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis. Vaccination of children from 9 months of age and older against measles is very important to maintain community immunity, helping to prevent outbreaks.

Doctor Nguyen Tuan Hai, Safpo/Potec Vaccination System, said that measles vaccine is up to 98% effective in preventing the disease, helping children's bodies produce antibodies, preventing measles and serious complications.

Doctors also recommend that people not only get fully vaccinated but also take other preventive measures such as daily eye, nose, and throat hygiene, avoid contact with people suspected of having the disease, and not share personal items.

In addition to vaccination, families need to proactively take other preventive measures to limit the spread of measles. Maintaining personal hygiene, avoiding crowded places, and limiting contact with people showing symptoms of the disease are very important.

At the same time, supplementing nutrition and strengthening the child's immune system also helps the child's body have better resistance to virus attacks.

If you see symptoms such as fever, runny nose, dry cough, red eyes, sensitivity to light and rash, you should take your child immediately to a medical facility for timely examination and treatment.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/bo-y-te-yeu-cau-khan-cap-phong-chong-soi-khong-de-dich-benh-lan-rong-d253380.html