Vaccination actively creates immunity, helping the body fight against pathogens. Experts affirm that full vaccination is a safe, effective and proactive way to prevent infectious diseases.

Vaccination is the most effective measure to prevent disease, reducing morbidity and mortality caused by many dangerous diseases. Photo: Chi Cuong

In order to promote high vaccination rates, from the beginning of 2024, the Hanoi Department of Health has issued Plan No. 1250/KH-SYT on implementing expanded vaccination, striving for the goal of fully vaccinating 8 types of vaccines for children under 1 year old, vaccinating 2nd dose of measles-rubella vaccine for 18-month-old children and fully vaccinating pregnant women against tetanus at 95% or more;

Fully vaccinate 2 doses of injectable polio vaccine (IPV) for children under 1 year old, Japanese encephalitis vaccine for children from 1-5 years old and vaccinate hepatitis B vaccine within the first 24 hours for newborns at a rate of 90% or more.

Vaccination against diphtheria - whooping cough - tetanus in the 4th dose (DPT4) for children from 18 months old reached 80%; the rate of supplementary vaccination and anti-epidemic vaccination of all types of vaccines ensured the target according to the instructions of the Ministry of Health and the Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology.

100% of vaccination facilities located in Hanoi must manage subjects in the expanded vaccination program, vaccination history of subjects in the expanded vaccination program; manage supplies, vaccines and make monthly, quarterly and annual statistical reports on the National Immunization Information Management System.

The Hanoi Center for Disease Control was assigned by the Hanoi Department of Health as the permanent unit for vaccination work. It has developed a professional operation plan and provided guidance for all vaccination facilities to comply with regulations of the Ministry of Health and the Department of Health.

At the same time, the Hanoi Center for Disease Control is the focal point for synthesizing the need for vaccines in the expanded immunization program of units in the city to report and propose vaccine distribution according to instructions, organize the reception, transportation, preservation of vaccines, and allocation and distribution to units according to regulations.

In addition, in order to improve the capacity of the vaccination team at district health centers, the Hanoi Center for Disease Control organizes training courses on management, safe vaccination practices, and infectious disease surveillance; organizes monitoring sessions on vaccination such as: subject management, vaccination safety, and monthly and quarterly progress assessment of vaccination work.

Doctor Bui Van Hao, Director of the Hanoi Center for Disease Control, said that in the face of the risk of infectious diseases, the Ministry of Health has also warned about some diseases recorded in the recent past such as measles, whooping cough, diphtheria...

For diseases with vaccines, it is recommended that people proactively get fully vaccinated on schedule according to the instructions of the health sector...

According to doctors, in order for the vaccination session to be effective, the health station proactively screened eligible subjects, promoted propaganda and notified via text messages or phone calls, and sent invitations to local people about the time and location of vaccination.

When people bring their children for vaccination, they will be received by medical staff, screened, consulted and vaccinated according to the correct dosage, age, regulations and instructions of the Ministry of Health.

In addition, parents are also instructed to monitor and handle post-vaccination reactions in their children. For families who have not yet taken their children for vaccination, medical staff will monitor them more closely and proactively call to notify them of the re-vaccination date.

Participating in the expanded immunization program, children will be vaccinated against diseases such as hepatitis B, tuberculosis, whooping cough, tetanus, leukemia, measles - rubella or Japanese encephalitis... Vaccines have the effect of stimulating the body to produce antibodies, protecting health, limiting the attack of viruses and bacteria that are harmful to health.

Therefore, getting vaccinated on schedule and with enough doses will help children have a good immune system and prevent dangerous infectious diseases...

Outside of Hanoi, the current infectious disease situation is complicated, requiring increased prevention measures, including vaccines.

On August 10, the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control (HCDC) reported that in week 31 (from July 29 to August 4), 60 cases of rash fever suspected to be measles were detected in the city. Of these, 9 cases were confirmed to have the disease in the laboratory (ELISA IgM positive).

In addition, also in week 31, Ho Chi Minh City recorded 254 cases of dengue fever, 21% higher than the average of the previous 4 weeks.

The total number of dengue fever cases accumulated from the beginning of 2024 to week 31 is 5,136 cases. Districts with high number of dengue fever cases per 100,000 people include District 1, Thu Duc City, District 7.

Regarding hand, foot and mouth disease, in week 31, the city recorded 351 cases, 18.7% lower than the average of the previous 4 weeks. The total number of hand, foot and mouth disease cases accumulated from the beginning of 2024 to week 31 is 9,475 cases.

Districts with high numbers of hand, foot and mouth disease cases per 100,000 people include Binh Chanh district, Nha Be district and District 8. Currently, there is no vaccine to prevent hand, foot and mouth disease and dengue fever, but there is a vaccine to prevent measles.

According to statistics from Children's Hospital 1 (HCMC), in July the hospital recorded 82 new measles cases. This rate is higher than the same period in 2023 and the average of the past 5 years. It is predicted that in the coming time, this rate will continue to increase.

HCMC CDC reported that in August, the rate of children hospitalized due to dengue fever and bronchiolitis will increase.

Previously, at the end of March 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned of the return of measles. Accordingly, in the Western Pacific region, the number of measles cases increased by 255% from 2022 to 2023.

According to WHO, in Vietnam, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in the past time and the interruption of the supply of vaccines in the Expanded Immunization Program in 2023 have affected the vaccination rate for children nationwide.

Many children have not been vaccinated on schedule or have not received enough doses of vaccines in recent years, which is a risk factor for disease outbreaks, including measles.

To strengthen disease prevention and control, and minimize the risk of measles outbreaks in the coming time, the Ministry of Health requests the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities to direct relevant units to strengthen surveillance, early detection of measles cases in the community and medical examination and treatment facilities; and implement measures to thoroughly handle outbreaks as soon as cases are detected.

Continue to implement regular monthly vaccination for subjects under the Expanded Immunization Program, including measles vaccination for 9-month-old children and measles-rubella vaccination for 18-month-old children;

Review and organize catch-up and catch-up vaccinations for subjects under the Expanded Immunization Program who have not been vaccinated against measles, paying special attention to vaccination gaps.

Promote propaganda activities on the risk of measles and preventive measures, and mobilize people to fully and timely vaccinate their children with vaccines in the Expanded Immunization Program to proactively prevent vaccine-preventable infectious diseases.

To reduce the risk and prevent a resurgence of measles, WHO emphasizes that vaccination is the only way to protect children and adults from this potentially dangerous disease. Countries around the world are required to achieve and maintain a coverage rate of over 95% with 2 doses of measles vaccine.

Children and adults need to proactively get vaccinated against measles fully and on schedule to help the body produce specific antibodies against the measles virus, helping to prevent the risk of measles and severe complications, with outstanding effectiveness of up to 98%.

In addition, each person needs to proactively clean their eyes, nose, and throat with antiseptic solution every day. Limit gathering in crowded places, avoid close contact with people showing signs of measles or suspected of having the disease, and do not share personal items with people with the disease. Keep your living space clean and supplement foods to help strengthen the immune system.

If you experience symptoms of measles (fever, runny nose, dry cough, red eyes, sensitivity to light, rash all over the body), you should quickly go to the nearest medical center or facility for timely examination and treatment.