Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh issued a directive on Saturday calling for accelerated measles vaccination efforts nationwide, as the disease continues to spread with high case numbers reported in several localities.

The Ministry of Health was asked to support localities in accelerating the measles vaccination campaign, which must be completed by March 31.

The directive emphasized the need to ensure an adequate supply of measles vaccines and their timely distribution to all regions, addressing past shortages and delays in the expanded program on immunization.

Healthcare facilities were required to strictly adhere to Ministry of Health guidelines for the admission and treatment of measles and suspected measles cases.

The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance were tasked with securing and disbursing the necessary funds for the vaccination campaign by March 18.

Provincial and city authorities must assess local outbreaks and implement vaccination campaigns as per Ministry of Health guidelines, preventing further outbreaks.

They must ensure sufficient resources, including personnel, funding, supplies, and vaccines, to complete the vaccination drive within March.

The central government called for the effective implementation of the expanded program on immunization, including catch-up vaccinations for those who have missed doses. 

Local authorities were urged to conduct thorough door-to-door screenings to identify and vaccinate all eligible individuals, particularly in high-risk areas.

Increased public awareness campaigns are mandated to encourage parents to vaccinate their children according to the recommended schedule.

The Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, and other agencies were asked to collaborate in promoting vaccination and measles prevention.

Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long has been assigned to oversee the implementation of the directive and address any arising issues. 

The Government Office and the Ministry of Health will monitor the progress and report to PM Chinh.

The directive follows a national online conference on measles prevention and control held by the Ministry of Health on Saturday.

Data from the health ministry showed that approximately 40,000 suspected measles cases and five measles-related deaths have been reported nationwide since the beginning of the year. 

The southern region accounts for the highest infections with 57 percent of the cases, followed by the central region (19.2 percent), the northern region (15.1 percent), and the Central Highlands (8.7 percent).

Several provinces and cities, including Bac Lieu, Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Dong Nai, and Ca Mau, have reported high case numbers, although the rate of infection has begun to plateau in these areas.

Health experts advised the public to proactively take preventive measures, ensure timely vaccination for children, and seek immediate medical attention if symptoms such as high fever are observed.

According to the World Health Organization, measles is a highly contagious, airborne virus that mostly affects children under five years old. 

It can be prevented by two doses of vaccine and more than 50 million deaths have been averted since 2000.

Measles complications can include blindness, encephalitis, severe diarrhea and associated dehydration, ear infections, and serious respiratory problems including pneumonia, doctors warned.

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