Measles is reportedly spreading to seven provinces and cities across Vietnam after the outbreak recorded in Vietnam’s capital city of Hanoi, which has killed two babies so far. The outbreaks were recorded after more than 240 cases have been found in 18 localities nationwide since last December. The situation was attributed to low vaccination rate as up to 80% of the patients were not vaccinated against measles, the National Institution of Hygiene and Epidemiology said. The low rate of vaccination was caused by some concerns over the unsafety of getting vaccinated after dozen of deaths were reported across Vietnam over the past years. The cause of death was often associated with Quinvaxem, a five-in-one vaccine protects infants against five deadly childhood infections: diphtheria (d), tetanus (call), pertussis (P, whooping cough), hepatitis B (HepB), and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib). Measles had almost disappeared in Vietnam over the past years. (Nhan Dan – The People Feb 11 p8, Nong Nghiep – Agriculture Feb 11 p10, Vov.vn Feb 8)
