The vaccine will continue to be used in the (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNS/VNA) – The
Ministry of Health (MoH) will continue to use the ComBE Five vaccine in a
national expanded immunisation programme (EIP), a senior official said.
Tran Dac Phu, head of the Department of Preventive Medicine under the MoH, said
the ministry has directed cities and provinces nationwide to continue using
this vaccine in accordance with the approved plan.
A number of parents have
raised concerns following a number of reports of post-vaccination
complications.
The central province of Binh Dinh reportedly suspended use of the vaccine soon after a two-month old baby
died after it was administered.
Other side-effects were
reported in a number of localities including Hanoi and Hai Phong.
According
to Phu, normal reactions such as mild fever or a slight pain around the
injection site are reported in 1.73 percent of children.
Reports from localities in
which the ComBE Five is used showed that between 0.05 and 5.5 percent of
children have a fever after receiving the vaccine.
“All vaccines imported to Vietnam in general and Combe Five in particular are
transferred in batches and inspected separately. Lots of vaccines that are used
meet safety standards and are granted licences,” he said.
He advised parents to keep
children at medical centres for 30 minutes after immunisation so doctors can
monitor and treat any abnormal reactions.
ComBE Five is a
“five-in-one” vaccine that can help fight five common, potentially fatal
diseases affecting infants – diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B
and Haemophilus influenza type B.
More than 400 million doses
of ComBE Five have been used for children in 39 countries and territories since
it was approved by the World Health Organisation.
In May 2017, ComBE Five
obtained a licence from the Ministry of Health. The vaccine was first administrated for
more than 17,300 children in seven provinces of Ha Nam, Bac Giang, Yen Bai, Kon Tum, Binh Dinh, Dong Thap and Ba Ria Vung Tau.-VNS/VNA
Source: VietnamPlus
