Vaccination is an effective measure to prevent measles.

- Reporter: Can you tell us about the measles situation in Lam Dong from the beginning of 2025 until now and forecast for the coming time?

Master - Specialist Doctor II Nguyen Thi Hieu Hoa

- Master - Specialist Doctor II Nguyen Thi Hieu Hoa: From January 1, 2025 to April 2, 2025, the province recorded 845 cases (783 clinical measles cases, 62 confirmed cases), while in the same period in 2024, no cases were recorded. Cases have appeared in all 10 districts and cities in the province, some localities have high numbers of cases such as: Da Lat (248), Duc Trong (224)... Measles is recorded in all ages, mainly concentrated in the group from 12 months to 5 years old (24.1%) and from 6 to 10 years old (23.9%). Patients who have not been vaccinated or have not received enough doses of measles vaccine often have a more severe disease progression than those who have been fully vaccinated. In the coming time, the epidemic is forecast to continue to develop unpredictably, with the potential to increase rapidly if disease prevention measures are not actively and proactively implemented, especially in schools and crowded places. In reality, many people, families, and some schools are still indifferent and do not care about implementing epidemic prevention and hygiene measures.

- It is known that the health sector has actively and rapidly deployed measles vaccination campaigns to prevent the risk of measles outbreaks. What are the vaccination results up to now, doctor?

Vaccination is an effective measure to prevent measles. In addition to implementing measles vaccination according to the schedule of the expanded immunization program (first measles dose when children are 9 months old and measles-rubella when children are 18 months old); reviewing vaccination history and catch-up vaccination for children entering school at educational institutions, implemented from 2024, is an activity added to the regular immunization program, maintained annually. In 2024, the whole province had 18,697 children vaccinated against measles and 17,412 children vaccinated against measles-rubella, reaching a coverage rate of over 97%; catch-up and catch-up vaccination for 2,854 children. Regular vaccination continued to be maintained well in the first 3 months of 2025.

In response to the increasing epidemic situation, in March 2025, the province deployed and completed the Measles Vaccination Campaign for 4,594 children from 6 months to under 9 months old and the Measles Vaccination Campaign for 6,111 children from 1 to 10 years old who had not been vaccinated or had not received enough doses of measles vaccine, achieving the coverage target of the campaign. However, there are still some cases where children have not received all doses due to health reasons and have to postpone vaccination, parents have not taken their children to get vaccinated, do not agree to let their children get vaccinated, or wait for service vaccination...

- Doctor, what are the specific key tasks of the orientation of disease control activities in general and measles in Lam Dong?

Continue to promote communication work, raise people's awareness so that they can proactively implement disease prevention measures for individuals, families and communities. Propagate and mobilize people to take their children for vaccination as soon as the schedule or campaign is due; wear masks in crowded places; when children are sick, they need to be taken to medical facilities for examination and treatment, comply with measures to prevent infectious diseases and monitor treatment.

The Education sector continues to proactively coordinate with the Health sector to actively implement epidemic prevention and control measures in schools as well as ensure smooth, continuous and timely reporting, monitoring, zoning and handling, limiting contact with sick children, reducing the spread of pathogens; actively and urgently continue to review children's vaccination history so that health care can organize catch-up vaccinations for children who have not been vaccinated or have not been fully vaccinated according to the program's regulations.

The health sector continues to actively and effectively implement regular vaccination according to the program; coordinate with the education sector, sectors and organizations to continue to review subjects for catch-up vaccination, and immediately vaccinate children who have not received enough doses of vaccine as prescribed; organize monitoring, detect and handle outbreaks promptly, not allowing outbreaks to break out and spread in the community.

Medical examination and treatment facilities must strictly follow the procedures for triage and isolation of measles patients according to regulations; ensure sanitation and disinfection; and prepare medicines, chemicals, and supplies to ensure timely examination and treatment for patients.

Thank you doctor!

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/xa-hoi/202504/tiem-vac-xin-la-bien-phap-hieu-qua-phong-benh-soi-f552c2f/