A doctor vaccinates a child against Japanese encephalitis in Quang Tri Province’s Cat Village. (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – The will give supplemental
vaccinations against Japanese encephalitis to children between six and 15 years
old, who did not receive the vaccine, or are not sure about their vaccination
schedule previously, in districts facing high risks of the disease.
The plan
will be carried out in 2017-18.
The
information was released by associate professor Tran Nhu Duong, deputy director
of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology.
Duong said
that Vietnam saw about 1,000 cases of encephalitis per year, and 10 percent of
them were Japanese encephalitis.
Nearly 60 percent
of the cases were in northern provinces.
Most
patients are between one and 10 years old and were unsure if they had received
the vaccination or not.
Under the
plan, children between six and 15 years old will receive three doses of the
vaccine.
The plan
will cover several districts in Son La, Dien Bien, Lang Son and Bac Kan
northern provinces, Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Nam and Quang Ngai central
provinces.
The
districts had at least one problem related to the disease, including the rate
of vaccination against Japanese encephalitis being under 80 percent, the rate
of Japanese encephalitis equal to or more than 1/100,000 residents, and
fatalities caused by Japanese in two consecutive years.
The national
programme will provide s for about 3.4 million children, who are
from one to two years old, per year nationwide.
Experts from
the Preventive Medicines Department under the Ministry of Health said that
Japanese encephalitis could occur year-round, and the epidemic often occurs in
summer months, because mosquitoes can develop during those months.
Anyone who
is not vaccinated can suffer from the disease.
Experts
warned that to prevent the disease, people should ensure environmental hygiene,
clean accommodation, use mosquito nets while sleeping and not let children go
near animals.
Vaccination
is the most effective preventive measure.
But only one
dose of the vaccine is not strong enough, so children should receive three
basic doses. The first dose is when they are one year old, the second one or
two weeks later, and the third one year later. Children should also receive
booster injections every four years until they are 15 years old.-VNA
Source: VietnamPlus
