A child is vaccinated at a hospital in HCM City. — VNA/VNS.Photo Phương Vy

HCM CITY — The HCM City Centre for Diseases Control and Prevention in October will launch a campaign to provide a free 2-in-1 combination vaccine against tetanus and diphtheria to children born in 2013.

Diotheria has broken out in several Central Highlands and central provinces such as Đắk Lắk and Quảng Trị.

Officials at health centres in districts and health stations in wards and communes will visit schools to provide the vaccine to second graders. Children can also receive the vaccine at health centres and stations.  

The authorities were asked to encourage local residents to have their children vaccinated.

Children who received a tetanus or diphtheria vaccine a month before the campaign will not be provided another vaccine.

The centre’s report shows that the rate of children born in 2019 who were vaccinated against diphtheria in the first six months of the year was 88 per cent while the goal was 95 per cent.

For children born in 2018, the rate who received the fourth shot against diphtheria in the first six months was 65 per cent while the goal was 80 per cent.

In the upcoming time, the centre will instruct health officials of health centres in districts to list children who need to be vaccinated further.

According to the centre, besides receiving the requisite number of basic shots, booster injections should also be given to prevent diphtheria and reduce transmission sources in the community. — VNS