Vaccination for children who have not been vaccinated or have not received enough doses of the measles vaccine at schools to ensure community immunity and prevent the risk of outbreaks. (Photo: VNA)
From early this year, the northern mountainous province of Lang Son recorded 19 measles cases. In response, the provincial health sector has accelerated an immunisation campaign across its 11 districts and cities, aiming to vaccinate 95% of children within the target age group to establish herd immunity and prevent further transmission.
Local health stations in communes, wards and townships across province have launched large-scale vaccination drives for children. Healthcare facilities are also coordinating with schools to administer vaccinations on-site, following a review that revealed a significant number of students had not been fully immunised.
Nguyen Ngoc Hung, a resident of Chi Lang ward, Lang Son city, realised that his eight-year-old child had missed the measles vaccination after reviewing the family’s immunisation records.
He praised the local health station and school for facilitating vaccinations for approximately 200 students, allowing them to receive their shots during break times, without disrupting their studies.
Director of Trang Dinh district Medical Centre Dr Be Van Khanh emphasised that disease prevention efforts include extensive public awareness campaigns and strengthened surveillance.
All 20 medical stations in the district have been instructed to promptly detect and manage cases to prevent community transmission.
On March 25, the district launched a targeted measles vaccination drive at local health stations, administering 588 doses by March 30.
The head of the Department for Infectious Disease Prevention at the Lang Son provincial Centre for Disease Control, Dr Duong Anh Dung, said the province also launched an emergency vaccination campaign on March 24–25, including weekend clinics, after receiving 25,000 measles vaccine doses from the Ministry of Health. About 10,248 doses had been administered, achieving 90.2% of the target.
According to the Quang Ninh province Department of Health, as of March 30, the province had successfully vaccinated 95.9% of children aged six months to ten years, exceeding its target.
Several localities, including Dong Trieu city, Quang Yen town, and Binh Lieu district, achieved full vaccination coverage. Other areas reported rates of at least 92%.
On March 31, mop-up vaccination efforts continued in areas with lower coverage, including Ha Long city, Uong Bi city and Van Don district, to ensure comprehensive immunisation and reinforce community protection.
In response to the outbreak, Quang Ninh health authorities initiated a large-scale vaccination drive in mid-March, prioritising areas with high case numbers, such as Ha Long, Mong Cai and Cam Pha cities and Quang Yen town.
By the end of March, over 27,000 measles and measles-rubella vaccine doses had been administered across the province.
The Ministry of Health has issued an urgent directive for stricter measles control in healthcare settings as cases continue to rise nationwide, surpassing 2024 figures in the first quarter of 2025. Several measles-related deaths highlight the outbreak's severity.
Hospitals are being directed to enhance disease detection and infection control, while preparing for potential surges, including severe cases requiring intensive care.
Separate examination areas and dedicated treatment zones in infectious disease or paediatric wards are mandated, with strict isolation for critical patients.
Facilities must also expand public awareness efforts, optimise staffing and bed capacity, limit visitor numbers and enforce stringent infection control.
Stockpiling essential medicines and improving coordination between treatment and preventive healthcare units are key priorities in containing the outbreak./.