An estimated 23 million children between the ages of 1 and 14 will be vaccinated against measles and rubella following the launch of the largest-ever nationwide vaccination campaign on September 15.

The campaign will be carried out in three phases, with the first providing free measles-rubella vaccine for children under five in September and October, the second targeting children in the 6-10 age group in November and December, and the third for kids aged 11-14 in January and February next year.

Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien recently concluded a fact-finding tour of northern Thai Binh province to inspect vaccination work and examine preparations for the upcoming campaign.

She emphasised the need to preserve and use vaccines safely and take special precaution for children having allergies and those suffering from congenital heart diseases.

Dr. Tran Dac Phu, Director of the Ministry of Health’s Department of Preventive Medicine, said the six-month vaccination campaign is set to take place in all 63 provinces and cities across the country.

He revealed the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the GAVI Alliance have agreed to donate five million doses of vaccine, worth more than US$36 million. The vaccine has been produced in India and carefully examined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) Dr. Phu said.

At present, measles is a highly dangerous infectious disease that remains one of the leading causes of death among children in developing countries, he added.

Measles-suspected cases seen in Son La, Hoa Binh

A number of scarlet fever cases suspected of measles have been recorded in the northern provinces of Son La and Hoa Binh, said the Department of Preventive Medicine under the Health Ministry on September 6.

Fifty cases were reported between August 15-30 in Van Ho district, Son La province while 93 others were seen from August 18 to September 4 in Hang Kia commune, Mai Chau district, Hoa Binh province. Most of them were from the Mong ethnic minority group.

The department attributed poor access to healthcare services and a low measles vaccination rate to a high risk of an outbreak of the disease.

In response to the situation, the local health care sectors have rolled out a number of measures, including strengthening supervision over the disease to soon detect infected cases and immediately vaccinating children aged from 1-14.

The Health Departments of Son La and Hoa Binh have also increased mobile vaccination points in remote villages and communes as part of efforts to give vaccinations to ethnic minority people, while strengthening communications on preventive measures against measles.

Earlier this year, nearly 4,000 measles cases were reported across 61 out of 63 provinces and cities nationwide, mostly in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), measles is one of the leading causes of death among young children. The disease, which is caused by a virus in the paramyxovirus family, kills about 330 people every day or 14 people every hour.

Measles vaccinations resulted in a 78% drop in deaths between 2000 and 2012 worldwide, said the organisation.

VOV/VNA