VietNamNet Bridge – The National Expanded Programme for Immunisation has asked the Ministry of Health to give rubella vaccinations to women of child-bearing age and children.

The proposal was made after a higher number of women, especially pregnant women, were reported to have suffered from rubella, also know as German measles, over the past three months, said programme director Nguyen Tran Hien.

"An incomplete report of the National Institute for Hygiene and Epidemiology shows the number of rubella cases in the first five months of this year was higher than the average number of cases in the same period over the past five years," said Hien.

"Among the cases, many were pregnant women who accepted abortions due to the high risks to their babies' health during the first three months of gestation," he said.

He also said evidence rubella was found during the health ministry's inspections at obstetric and paediatric units in big cities like Ha Noi, HCM City and northern Vinh Phuc Province.

"Women of child-bearing age should be given priority for rubella vaccinations in these high prevalence areas," said Hien.

If a pregnant woman contracts rubella within the first three months of gestation, it is more than 90 per cent possible that her baby will have a congenital malformation like blindness, deafness, a small brain or congenital heart disease.

The programme has proposed a draft of the Rubella Prevention Plan for the Ministry of Health's approval to submit to the Government.

The immunisation programme aimed to vaccinate all women aged 15-35, children aged 1-14 and 12-month-old children following recommendations of the World Health Organisation, Hien said.

Hien said the biggest obstacle was that Viet Nam didn't have the financial resources to provide the vaccinations.

"It is estimated that VND300billion (US$14.5 million) would be required each year to carry out a vaccination programme," Hien said. The health sector is discussing the possible production of a locally made vaccine.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News