The campaign will be carried out in three phases, with the first providing free measles-rubella vaccine for children under five in September and October, the second targeting children in the 6-10 age group in November and December, and the third for kids aged 11-14 in January and February next year.
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Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien recently concluded a fact-finding tour of northern Thai Binh province to inspect vaccination work and examine preparations for the upcoming campaign.
She emphasised the need to preserve and use vaccines safely and take special precaution for children having allergies and those suffering from congenital heart diseases.
Dr. Tran Dac Phu, Director of the Ministry of Health’s Department of Preventive Medicine, said the six-month vaccination campaign is set to take place in all 63 provinces and cities across the country.
He revealed the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the GAVI Alliance have agreed to donate five million doses of vaccine, worth more than US$36 million. The vaccine has been produced in India and carefully examined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) Dr. Phu said.
At present, measles is a highly dangerous infectious disease that remains one of the leading causes of death among children in developing countries, he added.
