After seven deaths and three serious allergy cases attributed to Quinvaxem vaccine injections in the last two months, the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization jointly conducted tests of the vaccine to assess the properties of the vaccine and assert cause of deaths.
WHO sent five samples to an independent international organization for testing and the test results showed that the vaccine was safe for children.
Before, the ministry had also announced test results of the vaccine, declaring it safe for children and conforming to the country’s standards as well as international WHO standards.
In addition, the transportation and preservation conditions of the vaccine were also done in the right manner under hygienic conditions. Medical staff also had followed correct procedures while injecting the children.
Quinvaxem is a vaccine used to fight five serious child diseases, namely, diphtheria (D), tetanus (T), pertussis (P, whooping cough), hepatitis B (HepB), and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib).
So far, around 427 million doses of Quinvaxem vaccine have been used in more than 91 nations since 2006. Since June 2010, Vietnam has been using the Quinvaxem vaccine and consumes 4.5 million free doses in children from 2-4 months old.
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