First Graders to Get Free Vaccine
Children in the first grade will receive a second inoculation against measles free of charge as part of a drive to eliminate measles by 2010.
Children in the first grade will receive a second inoculation against measles free of
charge as part of a drive to eliminate measles by 2010, according to the director of the Expanded National Inoculation Programme, Associate Professor Do Sy Hien.
Many parents, however, don’t know about the availability of the free vaccination, said Hien.
Despite past efforts, the country still reported nearly 2,000 cases of measles last year, 2.5 times more than national targets.
Measles epidemics broke out in the three provinces of Dien Bien, Lai Chau and Thai Nguyen in the early months of last year, afflicting different age groups and not merely among children.
Hien was optimistic, however, that Viet Nam could meet the target of eliminating measles by 2010 if the vaccination programme was implemented well and early.
Overall, he noted, the rate of measles infection in the population has declined markedly in recent years.
Hien said the programme would provide inoculation against measles for students as soon as they start school as first-grade students. The State budget has provided funds for the programme.
The Ministry of Health and other offices were also mobilising several international organisations to provide funding for the programme, Hien said, and help a significant number of children in mountainous regions receive vaccinations against measles.
Hien also revealed that the Preventive Health Department was working with the programme to draft a regulation on safe inoculations. They hope to inform both health workers and parents about the inoculation process, empowering parents to take part in supervising the process.
charge as part of a drive to eliminate measles by 2010, according to the director of the Expanded National Inoculation Programme, Associate Professor Do Sy Hien.
Many parents, however, don’t know about the availability of the free vaccination, said Hien.
Despite past efforts, the country still reported nearly 2,000 cases of measles last year, 2.5 times more than national targets.
Measles epidemics broke out in the three provinces of Dien Bien, Lai Chau and Thai Nguyen in the early months of last year, afflicting different age groups and not merely among children.
Hien was optimistic, however, that Viet Nam could meet the target of eliminating measles by 2010 if the vaccination programme was implemented well and early.
Overall, he noted, the rate of measles infection in the population has declined markedly in recent years.
Hien said the programme would provide inoculation against measles for students as soon as they start school as first-grade students. The State budget has provided funds for the programme.
The Ministry of Health and other offices were also mobilising several international organisations to provide funding for the programme, Hien said, and help a significant number of children in mountainous regions receive vaccinations against measles.
Hien also revealed that the Preventive Health Department was working with the programme to draft a regulation on safe inoculations. They hope to inform both health workers and parents about the inoculation process, empowering parents to take part in supervising the process.
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