Post- vaccination cases in Vietnam fewer than WHO’s warning

Following the baby deaths after Quinvaxem vaccination in the central province of Nghe An and in the northern province of Hai Duong, Dr. Tran Dac Phu, head of the Department of Preventive Medicine, said that the number of post-vaccination cases in Vietnam is fewer than that the World Health Organization’s warning.

Following the baby deaths after Quinvaxem vaccination in the central province of Nghe An and in the northern province of Hai Duong, Dr. Tran Dac Phu, head of the Department of Preventive Medicine, said that the number of post-vaccination cases in Vietnam is fewer than that the World Health Organization’s warning.

Mr. Phu said since the beginning of the year, the country had so far recorded 16 serious post-vaccination incidents after Quinvaxem vaccination including 8 deaths. Yet the scientific council announced most of Quinvaxem post- vaccination deaths were just sheer coincidence and one was anaphylactic shock.

Moreover, the country has 70 babies under the age of one year dying every day without known reason not relating to vaccine; accordingly, deaths after vaccination were coincident with a congenital disease of a baby. Many kids were vaccinated the same vaccine and same lot but only one died.

Noteworthy, the rate of post-vaccination of Quinvaxem vaccine in Vietnam is 4.5 over one million doses while as per manufacturers and WHO’s warning is 20 cases over one million doses. Accordingly, the vaccine will be used in the National Expanded Immunization Program to help prevent disease in children.

However, Mr. Phu stressed that vaccine was sent for testing and the Ministry of Health is currently considering all causes.

In related news, the Ministry of Health yesterday arrived at conclusion that 5 month old baby Nguyen Ngoc Tuong Vi in the northern province of Hai Duong died of septic shock after Quinvaxem vaccination at the commune’s medical clinic on October 25.

Medical experts from the Ministry, the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology and the National Children Hospital yesterday worked together to assess the injection procedure, vaccine preservation to find out the cause of the baby death. They came to conclusion that septic shock is the cause of the death not relating to vaccine.

Subsequently, the Ministry will continue use the vaccine in the National Expanded Immunization Program.

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