Many localities have recently reported an increase in measles cases, especially among young children who have not been fully vaccinated. In addition, some areas have not achieved the recommended measles-rubella vaccination rates, increasing the risk of an outbreak within the community.

Statistics show since the beginning of 2025, Vietnam has recorded approximately 40,000 suspected measles cases, with five deaths related to measles. The highest number of cases has been reported in the southern region (57%), the central region (19.2%), the northern region (15.1%) and the Central Highlands (8.7%).

These figures highlight the urgent need for enhanced measles prevention measures, including widespread vaccination campaigns and stricter disease monitoring.

MoH Deputy Minister Nguyen Thi Lien Huong on March 19 signed a decision to establish six inspection teams tasked with overseeing measles prevention efforts and the ongoing vaccination campaign in six regions across the country. This is a crucial measure to control measles, boost vaccination rates, and prevent a large-scale outbreak.

The MoH has said it will ensure the timely and sufficient allocation of measles vaccines to localities based on their submitted vaccine demands.

According to Dr. Nguyen Van Vinh Chau, deputy director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, the measles situation in the southern region is stable, while the outbreak remains complicated in the central, Central Highlands, and northern regions.

Last week, the Minister of Health held an online meeting with all provinces and cities nationwide to reinforce measles prevention measures. The Prime Minister also issued an urgent directive emphasizing the importance of measles vaccination, urging local authorities to review and accelerate immunization efforts, with the goal of completing the vaccination campaign by the end of March.

Dr. Hoang Minh Duc, director of the MoH’s Department of Disease Control, stated that measles spreads the fastest among infectious diseases. It is airborne and transmitted when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The only way to stop transmission is by achieving at least 95% community immunity.

Measles is a dangerous infectious disease that can cause severe complications, such as middle ear infections, pneumonia, diarrhea, corneal ulcers leading to blindness, and encephalitis, which can be fatal.

Currently, there is no specific treatment for measles, and vaccination is the most effective way to prevent the disease.

Health Ministry receives vaccines for measles vaccination campaign

VOV.VN - Vietnam Vaccine Joint Stock Company (VNVC) on March 17 donated 500,000 doses of measles vaccine to the Ministry of Health (MoH), in an effort to swiftly control the outbreak and prevent its widespread transmission across the country.