Around 2,871 children have not yet been fully given their 5-in-1 vaccines, while another 3,362 have not yet been provided with the first measles vaccine dose, according to Doctor Le Hong Nga, deputy director of the HCM City Centre for Disease Control.

Meanwhile, roughly 8,882 children are still waiting for the second dose of the measles vaccine. The city also lacks the Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis) vaccine for 18,084 18-month-old children.

The National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology also reported that vaccines in the Expanded Immunisation Programme will be supplied to localities by the end of this month and the time for imported vaccines will be by late December. However, to date, HCM City has not received the vaccines.

If the disruption in vaccine supply continues it could pose health risks for children. In the coming time, HCM City may face measles, diphtheria and pertussis outbreaks, Nga warned.

Source: Dtinews