Ho Chi Minh City is continuing to speed up the measles vaccination campaign to control the epidemic soon in September.
The total number of injections in the campaign of week 37 (from September 9 to September 15, 30,770 injections were given) increased 1.8 times compared to week 36 (from September 2 to September 8, 16,887 injections were given).
In total, by September 17, 31,075 children aged 1-5 in the city had received one dose of measles vaccine during the campaign, reaching 62.3% of the number of children needing vaccination (49,847 children).
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| Ho Chi Minh City is continuing to speed up the measles vaccination campaign to control the epidemic soon in September. |
Implementing the direction of the Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee at the meeting of the Steering Committee for Measles Prevention and Control on September 11, 2024, the measles vaccination campaign has been promoted throughout the city.
During week 37, the city deployed 308 vaccination sites, including 232 at kindergartens and primary schools. On average, about 4,400 doses of measles vaccine were administered to those in need of vaccination each day; the highest number was 5,149 doses on September 12, 8,193 doses on September 13, 6,882 doses on September 14, 2,932 doses on September 15; 6,963 doses on September 16, 13,075 doses on September 17; while the previous days were only approximately 2,400 doses per day.
As of September 17, 2024, the city's measles-rubella vaccination campaign has achieved a total of 76,993 measles-rubella (MR) doses. Of these, 31,075 doses have been given to children aged 1-5, reaching a rate of 62.3%, 39,745 doses have been given to children aged 6-10, reaching a rate of 22.3%, and 6,173 doses have been given to other subjects (children in risk groups, medical staff). Binh Chanh, District 10 and District 8 are places with high vaccination progress.
It can be seen that in just a few days of deploying additional vaccination points at schools, the number of vaccinated children has increased rapidly.
Organizing vaccinations at schools has created favorable conditions for parents to take their children for vaccinations, so it has received positive responses from parents.
To speed up the vaccination progress, since September 16, in addition to continuing to deploy vaccination points at schools as planned, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health has directed the expansion of more vaccination points at private vaccination facilities (VNVC, FPT Long Chau, Chan Van) on all days of the week to increase people's access to the measles vaccination campaign.
After 2 days of implementation (September 16 and 17, 2024), private vaccination facilities contributed 491 injections to the campaign.
The City Health Department continues to speed up the vaccination campaign to basically complete coverage for over 95% of the infected population in September to control the epidemic.
Specifically, during the week from September 16 to 22, 2024, the Department of Health will deploy 506 points (260 vaccination points at Health Stations, 15 points at Health Centers, 268 points at schools, and 58 points at private vaccination facilities).
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in Vietnam, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in the past time and the interruption of the supply of vaccines in the Expanded Program for Immunization in 2023 have affected the vaccination rate for children nationwide.
Many children have not been vaccinated on schedule or have not received enough doses of vaccines in recent years, which is a risk factor for disease outbreaks, including measles.
To strengthen disease prevention and control, and minimize the risk of measles outbreaks in the coming time, the Ministry of Health requests the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities to direct relevant units to strengthen surveillance, early detection of measles cases in the community and medical examination and treatment facilities; and implement measures to thoroughly handle outbreaks as soon as cases are detected.
Continue to implement regular monthly vaccination for subjects under the Expanded Immunization Program, including measles vaccination for 9-month-old children and measles-rubella vaccination for 18-month-old children;
Review and organize catch-up and catch-up vaccinations for subjects under the Expanded Immunization Program who have not been vaccinated against measles, paying special attention to vaccination gaps.
Promote propaganda activities on the risk of measles and preventive measures, and mobilize people to fully and timely vaccinate their children with vaccines in the Expanded Immunization Program to proactively prevent vaccine-preventable infectious diseases.
Health experts say measles is considered a global threat because the measles virus of the Paramyxoviridae family spreads rapidly through the respiratory tract from sick people to healthy people in the community or even across borders.
Measles is dangerous because it not only causes acute symptoms but also puts patients at risk of nervous system infections, motor system disorders, damage to multiple organs in the body, and can leave many serious, long-lasting or even lifelong complications for patients such as encephalitis, meningitis, otitis media, pneumonia, diarrhea, corneal ulcers, blindness, etc.
In addition, measles is especially dangerous because it has the ability to erase immune memory, destroying an average of about 40 types of antibodies that can fight pathogens.
In children, a 2019 study by geneticist Stephen Elledge at Harvard University showed that measles eliminates between 11% and 73% of protective antibodies in children.
That is, when infected with measles, the patient's immune system will be destroyed and reset to its original, immature, and incomplete state like that of a newborn child.
To reduce the risk and prevent a resurgence of measles, WHO emphasizes that vaccination is the only way to protect children and adults from this potentially dangerous disease. Countries around the world are required to achieve and maintain a coverage rate of over 95% with 2 doses of measles vaccine.
Children and adults need to proactively get vaccinated against measles fully and on schedule to help the body produce specific antibodies against the measles virus, helping to prevent the risk of measles and severe complications, with outstanding effectiveness of up to 98%.
In addition, each person needs to proactively clean their eyes, nose, and throat with antiseptic solution every day. Limit gathering in crowded places, avoid close contact with people showing signs of measles or suspected of having the disease, and do not share personal items with people with the disease. Keep your living space clean and supplement foods to help strengthen the immune system.
If you experience symptoms of measles (fever, runny nose, dry cough, red eyes, sensitivity to light, rash all over the body), you should quickly go to the nearest medical center or facility for timely examination and treatment.
Source: https://baodautu.vn/no-luc-kiem-soat-dich-soi-trong-thang-9-d225371.html
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