There are still delays in organizing measles vaccination in many provinces and cities.

Although the Ministry of Health issued a vaccination plan immediately after receiving the risk assessment results from localities, the actual vaccination organization was delayed.

Ministry of Health: There are still delays in organizing measles vaccination in many provinces and cities.

Although the Ministry of Health issued a vaccination plan immediately after receiving the risk assessment results from localities, the actual vaccination organization was delayed.

According to information from the Ministry of Health, the plan to implement the measles vaccination campaign was approved in January 2025, and vaccines were allocated from weeks 1 and 2 of February 2025.

Vaccination is an important measure to prevent measles.

However, it was not until early March 2025 that some provinces and cities began implementing vaccination. This shows that some localities are still slow in organizing measles vaccination campaigns.

Since the beginning of 2025, the country has recorded nearly 40,000 suspected measles cases, including 3,447 positive cases, along with 5 deaths related to the disease. The number of cases has increased significantly compared to the same period in 2024 (only 111 cases). Of which, the South recorded the highest number of cases, accounting for 57%, followed by the Central region (19%) and the North (15%).

Some provinces and cities have seen a high number of cases, such as Cao Bang (582 cases), Nghe An (737 cases), Quang Nam (499 cases), Da Nang (2,043 cases), Khanh Hoa (1,661 cases), Dak Lak (621 cases), Gia Lai (1,879 cases), Kon Tum (624 cases), Dong Thap (1,202 cases), An Giang (1,046 cases), and Lam Dong (476 cases). Some provinces, although having a low number of cases, still need to pay attention to monitoring and early detection to prevent the spread of the disease.

Although the Ministry of Health issued a vaccination plan immediately after receiving the risk assessment results from localities, the actual vaccination organization was delayed.

The main reason is that it takes time to carry out procedures related to aid, quality control, vaccine allocation, and localities also need time to review vaccination subjects and organize training before implementing the campaign.

In addition, the Ministry of Health also said that some localities have not been proactive in ensuring vaccine sources and funding to organize and implement measles vaccination campaigns. Localities need to improve statistics and management of vaccination subjects, especially in remote areas and large urban areas.

Following the direction of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Health has urgently compiled the vaccine needs of provinces and cities and developed a vaccination plan for the second phase of the measles vaccination campaign in 2025.

The Ministry of Health has identified the vaccine needs of 54 provinces and cities (except for 9 provinces that have completed the 2024-2025 vaccination campaign), with a total of about 200,000 doses for children aged 6-9 months and 900,000 doses for children aged 1-10 years.

Regarding vaccine supply, the Ministry of Health said it has mobilized 500,000 doses of measles vaccine from VNVC aid. Of these, 200,000 doses are for children aged 6-9 months and 300,000 doses are for children aged 6-10 years to implement the measles vaccination campaign.

At the same time, for children aged 1-5 who have not received enough doses of measles-containing vaccine, they will be given a make-up dose with vaccines in the Expanded Immunization Program according to the Ministry of Health's Expanded Immunization Plan for 2025, with about 500,000 doses of vaccine used for this group.

The Ministry of Health has directed localities to speed up the implementation of the vaccination campaign, especially prioritizing vaccination for children in areas with many cases of the disease. At the same time, the expanded vaccination campaign will also continue to be implemented to catch up and vaccinate children who have not been vaccinated or have not received enough doses.

In addition, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) have highly appreciated the prompt and drastic measures taken by the Vietnamese Ministry of Health to respond to the measles outbreak. WHO and UNICEF are committed to continuing to support Vietnam in controlling the measles outbreak, especially in developing a measles elimination strategy and implementing communication activities.

The Department of Disease Prevention, Ministry of Health recommends that parents should take children from 9 months to 2 years old who have not been vaccinated or have not received 2 doses of measles vaccine to get fully vaccinated. Other age groups (6 - 9 months, 1 - 10 years old) also need to participate in the measles vaccination campaign according to the instructions of the Ministry of Health.

In addition, it is necessary to pay attention to keeping children's body, nose, throat, eyes and mouth clean every day, and protect children from the risk of measles by not letting them come into contact with people showing symptoms of suspected measles.

Doctor Bach Thi Chinh, Medical Director of VNVC Vaccination System, said that measles is an acute infectious disease caused by a virus, with typical symptoms such as fever, rash, runny nose, cough and red eyes.

Measles spreads rapidly through the respiratory tract, especially in crowded environments such as schools and residential areas. Nearly 100% of people who are not immune are at risk of contracting the disease. Measles can cause many serious complications such as diarrhea, corneal ulcers, pneumonia, encephalitis, and can lead to death."

Dr. Chinh also noted that pregnant women with measles are at risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, or premature birth. The two largest recent measles outbreaks occurred in 2019 and 2014. In 2014, in particular, more than 110 children died from measles.

According to Dr. Chinh, to protect public health, measles vaccination for children from 6 months of age is extremely important. In epidemic areas, children from 6 months to under 9 months of age will be vaccinated with the 0th dose of measles vaccine. Children need to continue to be vaccinated with measles vaccines from 9 months or 12 months of age according to the regular vaccination schedule.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/bo-y-te-con-cham-tre-trong-to-chuc-tiem-chung-vac-xin-soi-tai-nhieu-tinh-thanh-d256465.html