VietNamNet Bridge - Along with the southern province of Tien Giang, Hai Phong, Thai Nguyen and Kien Giang, provinces have reported dozens of cases of adverse reactions after Quinvaxem vaccine was re-used in the national extended vaccination.

After two days (October 25 and 26) of using Quinvaxem again, Tien Giang province decided to suspend the use of the vaccine in Cai Lay district because over 20 infants suffered from side effects after vaccination. The move made many parents worried because the Ministry of Health has just allowed the use of this vaccine again after 5 months.

There are 12 provinces in Vietnam have reused Quinvaxem vaccine. Besides Tien Giang, Hai Phong, Kien Giang and Thai Nguyen provinces have also reported reactions after vaccination with a total of 50 cases. Most of the cases were with mild reactions.

Dr. Tran Dac Phu, Director of Preventive Health Department says that according to reports by Tien Giang province, the majority of children hospitalized with fever, swelling of the injection site. This is just a reaction to the pertussis component of the vaccine.

Phu adds that the dozens of children that were hospitalized after vaccination is most likely because of psychological affects. Children after injection with Quinvaxem usually had fever and swelling at injection site. Perhaps the parents were so anxious so they took their children to hospital. "This act is very ordinary, prudent for the health of children. However, this can make mass reaction, when a mother brought her son to the hospital, others were also anxious and follow her," Phu says.

In late September, the Ministry of Health decided to re-use the 5 in 1 vaccine Quinvaxem after 5-month suspension. The decision was very carefully considered by the Ministry after receiving investigation results of the vaccine quality from institutions at home and abroad. All institutions confirmed that this vaccine is safe.

According to the Preventive Medicine Agency, each month 380,000 babies in Vietnam need Quivaxem vaccination. Therefore, the number of kids for Quivaxem vaccination this October will be huge after five months. In preparation, the Ministry of Health has prepared 1.5 million doses of Quinvaxem vaccine.

Quinvaxem vaccine has been used in the expanded immunization program in Vietnam from June 2010 as aid. Since then there have been 43 cases of severe reactions after vaccination.

According to the World Health Organization’s independent investigation, of these cases, 27 deaths were not related to vaccination. There were nine cases are considered related to vaccination but they all recovered. The remaining cases were not related to immunization and vaccine quality.

In May, the Ministry of Health decided to stop using Quinvaxem vaccine in the expanded immunization program after five children died after vaccination; four of which were confirmed to not be related to the vaccine. After that, the World Health Organization announced that the Quinvaxem vaccine batches of Vietnam were checked and confirmed safe.

Quinvaxem vaccine simultaneously works against five diseases, including diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, Hib and hepatitis, which is pre-tested for quality by the World Health Organization. When it is imported into Vietnam, this vaccine is once again tested by National Institute for Vaccines and Biologicals. The vaccine has been used in more than 90 countries with a total of over 400 million doses.

Mai Lan