Do not miss out on measles vaccination

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• Measles vaccination for children
• Do not miss out on measles vaccination

Dr. Tran Hien Khoa, Director of the Provincial Center for Disease Control (CDC), said: “Measles is transmitted very quickly through the respiratory tract, 90% of people who are not immune will be at risk of contracting the disease if they come into close contact with measles patients, on average 1 infected person can infect 12-18 others and the transmission can only be stopped when community immunity reaches at least 95%. The disease can cause many dangerous complications such as otitis media, pneumonia, diarrhea, corneal ulcers, and even encephalitis, which can easily lead to death; the disease is especially serious in young children and malnourished children.”

According to Dr. Khoa, measles has had large outbreaks, every 5 years, due to the accumulation of people who have not been immunized against measles in the community. Measles is highly contagious and often causes epidemics. Previously, most children had measles. The widespread implementation of measles vaccination for many years has successfully controlled measles.

In Ca Mau province, according to the provincial CDC, from the beginning of the year to March 23, 2025, the whole province had 2,169 suspected cases of measles, of which 27 cases tested positive. The number of cases increased in the first weeks of the year, but is now showing signs of slowing down and gradually being controlled. Specifically, the number of suspected measles cases in the whole province in week 6 was 231 cases, week 7 was 197 cases, week 8 was 122 cases, week 9 was 70 cases, week 10 was 100 cases, week 11 was 82 cases.

Schools proactively coordinate with medical centers to vaccinate children against measles in the area.

To control the measles epidemic, the provincial health sector has proactively taken many measures, such as directing treatment and prevention facilities to proactively ensure human resources, drugs, supplies, and chemicals to ensure measles prevention. Coordinate with theeducation sector to handle diseases in the community and schools to prevent infection. Strengthen communication work in many forms so that people can coordinate in preventing measles. Establish inspection and supervision teams at treatment and treatment facilities, isolation rooms for measles treatment; train treatment and prevention staff. In particular, proactively vaccinate children from 6 to under 9 months old and children from 1 to 10 years old, high-risk medical staff, and ensure the earliest vaccination.

According to statistics from the provincial CDC, from November 2024 to present, the whole province has vaccinated 45,400 doses of vaccine. Of which, 3,720 doses of measles vaccine, 41,680 doses of measles-rubella vaccine. As of March 23, 2025, the number of vaccines that have been vaccinated is almost the same as the number of vaccines received. The total number of people vaccinated is 33,833 doses, reaching 89.5%, the remaining vaccine in the whole province is 4,430 doses. Of which, 530 doses remain (children from 6 to under 9 months), 3,900 doses of measles-rubella vaccine (children from 1-10 years old). This number of vaccines will continue to be vaccinated in the coming days.

However, the organization of vaccination in the area also recorded certain difficulties. Doctor Tran Hien Khoa said: "This measles vaccination has many age groups and is selective, specifically, children who have been vaccinated with 2 doses of vaccine will not be vaccinated, children who have not been vaccinated and have received 1 dose will be vaccinated with 1 dose of vaccine. Vaccination and checking vaccination history at the same time makes it difficult to carry out."

In addition, the coordination and self-awareness of some groups of people is not high. When performing vaccination in the community, vaccination staff must call and text to encourage people to get vaccinated. At school, some parents do not agree to let their children get vaccinated.

Another difficulty is that some people are still hesitant about vaccination due to concerns about the effectiveness and side effects of the vaccine, so they have not really responded to participate in the campaign; the area is large, the population fluctuates, and medical staff have multiple jobs...

The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee has directed the Department of Health to coordinate with units and localities to assess the development of measles in the area. Thereby, closely monitor the development of the epidemic situation, detect early, isolate and treat, prevent and control infections and synchronously deploy measures to prevent and control measles, not to let measles outbreaks occur in the province. Organize vaccination forms suitable to actual conditions and ensure sufficient human resources, funding, materials, equipment, and vaccines to speed up the vaccination progress, to be completed in March 2025.

The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested the Department of Education and Training to direct educational institutions to implement measures to prevent and control measles according to the instructions of the health sector.

At the same time, strengthen communication, propaganda, and mobilize people to proactively implement measures to prevent and control measles and have children fully vaccinated on schedule according to the instructions of the health sector. Regularly, fully, and accurately inform about the epidemic situation, prevent and handle incorrect information about measles. Schools monitor the health of children and students and immediately notify medical facilities when detecting suspected cases of measles for timely isolation and treatment.

With the spirit of "going to every alley, knocking on every door, checking every subject", the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested districts and cities to coordinate with the health sector to strengthen the review and management of vaccination subjects, ensuring close adherence to the actual situation in the area. No subjects are left out, especially in areas at risk of disease outbreaks. To prevent disease outbreaks, it is important to cover ≥95% of the vaccine with 2 doses of measles vaccine in the community./.

 

Hong Nhung

 

Source: https://baocamau.vn/khong-bo-sot-doi-tuong-tiem-chung-soi-a37973.html