Health offiicals at the ceremony on Monday. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — The Ministry of Health (MoF) has received 500,000 doses of measles vaccine presented by the Vietnam Vaccine JSC (VNVC) to support a nationwide immunisation campaign.

The donation aligns with the Prime Minister's Official Dispatch No 23/CĐ-TTg, issued on March 15, on accelerating vaccination against measles as the number of cases is on the rise.

Deputy Minister of Health Nguyễn Thị Liên Hương praised the VNVC for its timely valuable support, affirming that the vaccine will be delivered immediately to localities, contributing to speeding up the campaign's rollout in accordance with the Prime Minister's direction.

A child in Hà Nội receives a vaccine against measles. — VNA/VNS File Photo

Since early 2025, Việt Nam has recorded approximately 40,000 suspected measles cases and five measles-related deaths. The southern region reported the highest number of cases (57 per cent), the central region accounted for 19.2 per cent, the north 15.1 per cent, and the Central Highlands 8.7 per cent.

The suspected measles cases are mainly in children from nine months to under 15 years old with 72.7 per cent, while the rate of infection in children under nine months old is 15.3 per cent. Most cases involve unvaccinated or under-vaccinated children or those too young to receive the vaccine.

Since last September, the MoH has rolled out measles vaccination campaigns for children aged 1–10 years across 31 localities.

Looking ahead, the ministry has drafted a 2025 measles prevention plan targeting high-risk areas. Children aged six months to under nine months in 24 localities with active outbreaks will be prioritised, alongside those aged 1 to 10 years in designated regions. — VNA/VNS