Like other vaccination stations throughout the country, the Da Nang Preventive Medicine Centre is running out of chickenpox vaccine.  This is mainly because of the increasing number of chickenpox cases compared with previous years.  Many local residents of different age groups have been infected with this contagious disease.  In addition, local pre-schools are only admitting children who have been vaccinated against the disease.  More vaccine is expected to be available at this centre in April. 

The Dean of the Dermatology Department at the Da Nang Dermatology Hospital, Dr Nguyen Toai, said that his hospital is seeing a sharp rise in the number of patients with chickenpox.  The majority of them are children and elderly people.  Many people wrongly believe that only children catch the disease but, according to medical experts, people of all ages can suffer, and the disease is more serious in older patients.

A child receiving a chickenpox vaccination

The Director of the city’s Preventive Medicine Centre, Dr Ton That Thanh, said that outbreaks of chickenpox can occur all year round, but especially before and after the Tet Festival.  As for prevention of the disease, he advised that local residents should ensure personal hygiene as well as be aware of contact with infected people or avoid going to busy places.  In addition, anyone possibly infected with the disease is advised to go to a local medical centre immediately for treatment as soon as any symptoms are discovered.