Additional MR shots to be given to children in high-risk areas

Illustrative photo (Source: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – The Ministry of Health has issued a decision approving a plan to give
additional measles-rubella (MR) vaccine shots to children in the 1-5 age group in
the 2018-2019 period.

Under Decision
6193/QD-BYT, the number of children benefiting from the campaign is 4.28
million, mostly from high-risk areas. The children, whether they got MR vaccines
already or not, and their last shot was under one month prior to the start of
the campaign, will receive one more to enhance their resistance against
diseases.

The campaign will be
conducted at kindergartens and health care facilities. The ministry has
directed localities to set up inspection and supervision teams to support the
campaign to ensure quality and safety.

Statistics of the
ministry showed that the number of measles infection cases in 2017 were higher
than that in 2015 and 2016.

As of September 17,
2018, the disease was reported in 37 localities nationwide with nearly 1,000
cases, including one death in Hung Yen province. Localities with a high number
of cases include Hanoi, Lao Cai, Thanh Hoa, Son La, Quang Ninh and Dien Bien.

Although the rate of
MR nationwide is relatively high, the figure has yet to
meet 95 percent, while there remain many high-risk areas with a rate of under
90 percent.

Measles and rubella are
, which may cause serious complications on
patients and even threaten their lives.

MR vaccines are
effective and safe in preventing the diseases. In 2018, Vietnam has give
additional shots to children in 33 districts of six high-risk provinces of Lao
Cai, Yen Bai, Thanh Hoa, Lai Chau, Dien Bien and Son La. Meanwhile, 13 other high-risk
areas have built their plans to conduct the campaign.-VNA