Long An: Deploying measles vaccination across the province

On October 10, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) of Long An province said that from October 16 to the end of October, the health sector of Long An province will implement a measles vaccination campaign in schools and in the community throughout the area.

CDC Long An recommends that parents proactively take their children to medical facilities to fully vaccinate against measles.

According to Dr. Huynh Huu Dung, Director of CDC Long An province, based on the results of the measles risk assessment in 63 provinces and cities of the World Health Organization (WHO), Long An is one of the 7 provinces with a very high risk of measles outbreaks. Therefore, the measles vaccination campaign needs to be implemented urgently as soon as possible, focusing mainly on children who have not been fully vaccinated with 2 doses to increase the rate of measles immunity in the community, reducing the rate of infection, spread and death.

Dr. Huynh Huu Dung said that measles is an infectious disease that causes epidemics, transmitted through the respiratory tract, and is one of the leading causes of death in children under 5 years old. People who are not immune to measles are at risk of contracting the disease. Therefore, vaccination is an effective way to prevent measles.

Since the beginning of the year, the Department of Health and the provincial CDC have directed district-level health centers to request health stations to strengthen communication about the benefits of measles vaccination, and to make a list of children who are late for vaccination to invite them to be vaccinated. This is a solution to ensure catch-up vaccinations for children who have not been vaccinated against measles.

Currently, commune-level health stations throughout the province have received the full number of vaccines in the Expanded Immunization Program, including measles vaccines.

Doctor Huynh Huu Dung suggested that people should practice good personal hygiene measures such as washing hands regularly with soap properly, cleaning the body, nose, throat, and eyes daily; and limit contact with people with measles or suspected of having measles.

Parents should take the initiative to take their children to medical facilities to get fully vaccinated. When there are signs of suspected measles such as fever, rash, cough or runny nose, go to the nearest medical facility for timely examination and treatment to prevent serious complications.

The measles vaccination campaign was carried out in 188 communes, wards and towns of 15 districts, towns and cities and hospitals, medical centers and health stations across Long An province were announced to be eligible for vaccination. The vaccine deployed in the campaign is the measles-rubella combination vaccine produced by the Center for Research and Production of Vaccines and Biologicals, 10-dose vials, freeze-dried form with solvent, sponsored by WHO. Long An was provided with 47,000 doses of vaccine to carry out the campaign.

In this campaign, it is expected that more than 40,530 people will be vaccinated against measles, including more than 12,140 children aged 1-10 in the community, 25,946 children aged 1-10 in schools and 2,441 medical staff. Long An province will organize 737 vaccination points at hospitals, medical centers and health stations that are qualified for vaccination.

According to the report, in Long An province, by the end of week 37 of 2024, the whole province monitored 230 cases of rash fever suspected of measles, of which 94 cases tested positive, mainly in children who had not been vaccinated against measles. At the same time, 4 measles outbreaks were detected in Duc Hoa and Ben Luc districts.

*In Tien Giang, according to information from the infectious disease surveillance system, from May 31 to August 31, Tien Giang province recorded 41 cases of measles in 10 localities. The Tien Giang Provincial Department of Health has directed its affiliated units to strengthen monitoring, collect samples for testing of suspected cases and make a list of children of vaccination age who have not received enough doses of vaccine.

At the same time, organize measles-rubella vaccination for children, especially for children under 2 years old in the Expanded Immunization Program. Tien Giang Provincial Department of Health recommends that patients' relatives, medical staff and school teachers proactively get vaccinated against measles if they have not been vaccinated.

NGOC PHUC

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/long-an-trien-khai-tiem-vac-xin-soi-tren-toan-tinh-post763006.html