Quang Ngai carries out diphtheria immunisation programme for children

19,000 children who were born in 2013 in Quang Ngai Province will be given a diphtheria vaccine after 26 cases were reported in the area.

19,000 children who were born in 2013 in Quang Ngai Province will be given a diphtheria vaccine after 26 cases were reported in the area.

  

Quang Ngai carries out diphtheria immunisation programme for children

A diphtheria outbreak has developed in Quang Ngai. Most of the cases are in Ba To, a mountainous district in Quang Ngai. The immunisation programme was carried out in order to prevent an outbreak in educational facilities.

All children have their body temperature taken and were given a health check before entering vaccination locations. After receiving the shot, the children rest for 30 minutes so the medical staff can also monitor their health. The school managers will stay in touch with the parents in order to deal with emergencies.

In 2019, mountainous districts of Quang Ngai also faced a diphtheria outbreak. This year, the outbreak was detected in October in Ba To District.

The patients haven't travelled to any outbreak areas before. This means community immunity was too low. As of now, Quang Ngai authorities have given 82,000 vaccine shots to the people in 19 communes in Ba To District.

Dr Pham Duc Dung from Quang Ngai CDC said, "Immunity starts weakening when the children reach six or seven years old so it's necessary to have a booster shot. Quang Ngai is a high-risk province. All of the funds for the programme come from the state budget."