In Hanoi, a nine-month-old boy nicknamed Bo lies in critical condition at Hanoi Children’s Hospital, his small body reliant on continuous ventilation after a measles diagnosis revealed a collapsed lung. His father, Dương Văn Phương, admits he was unaware of the severity of the disease—or the vaccination campaigns that could have protected his son. Bo’s story is not isolated. Since the start of 2025, Vietnam has recorded over 42,000 measles cases and five deaths, exposing a dangerous gap in public awareness and vaccination coverage that health experts warn could spiral into a broader crisis.
A Growing Health Emergency
The measles outbreak sweeping Vietnam has caught many families off guard, with hospitals in Hanoi and beyond struggling to accommodate the influx of patients. At Saint Paul General Hospital, ventilators were fully occupied when Phương sought help for Bo, forcing a transfer to another facility. Similarly, Vũ Thùy Dung from Hải Phòng City has spent two weeks at her daughter’s bedside, watching helplessly as the child’s condition fails to improve despite intensive care. These personal accounts underscore a stark reality: measles, a preventable disease, is claiming lives and overwhelming healthcare systems due to lapses in vaccination and public education. 
According to health authorities, the measles virus spreads through the respiratory tract, manifesting in fever, conjunctivitis, respiratory and digestive tract inflammation, and distinctive red rashes that spread from the face to the body. Without timely intervention, complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis, and middle ear infections can emerge, posing lethal risks especially to unvaccinated young children. The five reported deaths this year serve as a grim reminder of the disease’s potential severity.
Vaccination Gaps and Parental Oversight
Dr. Trương Hữu Khánh, former head of Infectious Diseases and Neurology at Ho Chi Minh City’s Children’s Hospital 1, emphasizes that unvaccinated children or those without a full vaccine dosage are particularly vulnerable to severe complications like respiratory failure. “Complications such as pneumonia and death can easily occur among young children who have not been vaccinated” he told local media. He also noted that post-infection, children often face malnutrition and weakened immunity, making them susceptible to other illnesses.
Bo’s case illustrates the consequences of missed vaccinations. Unlike his older sibling, who experienced mild symptoms thanks to full immunization, Bo had not received the measles vaccine. Phương later admitted to Voice of Vietnam that he and his wife, preoccupied with work, were unaware of Hanoi’s vaccination drives. This lack of awareness is a recurring theme among affected families, pointing to systemic failures in outreach and education. Health campaigns, while active in urban centers like Hanoi, appear to be missing the mark in reaching busy or rural households.
Misconceptions and Cultural Barriers
Beyond logistical challenges, cultural misconceptions exacerbate the crisis. Dr. Khánh debunks a common belief that measles patients should “avoid wind and water,” a practice that can worsen a child’s condition by increasing discomfort and reducing immunity through fatigue and loss of appetite. Instead, he recommends wiping children with lukewarm water to prevent secondary infections like pneumonia and ensuring they stay in well-ventilated rooms. Such advice, however, struggles to penetrate deeply ingrained traditional practices, further complicating home care for infected children.
Dr. Khánh urges parents to vaccinate children from six months of age and to seek additional shots if there’s any doubt about prior coverage, reassuring that extra doses pose no health risks. For infants under 12 months, where diagnosis can be challenging, supplementary vaccination remains a safe option. He also clarifies that children who contract measles do not require vaccination afterward, as natural infection typically confers immunity.
Strain on Healthcare Systems
Hospitals across Vietnam are feeling the strain of the outbreak. In Hanoi, facilities like Saint Paul General Hospital and Hanoi Children’s Hospital are operating at capacity, with ventilators in short supply for critical cases like Bo’s. The situation reflects a broader challenge in Vietnam’s healthcare infrastructure, which, while improved in recent years, struggles to cope with sudden surges in infectious disease cases. Families are often forced to navigate multiple facilities in search of care, adding to their emotional and financial burdens.
Health experts stress that while measles can be managed at home with strict adherence to medical advice, any signs of respiratory distress or seizures necessitate immediate hospital intervention. Parents are also advised to focus on nutrition, offering smaller, frequent meals to bolster their children’s immunity during recovery. Yet, for many working families like Phương’s, balancing such care with daily responsibilities remains a daunting task.
Looking Ahead: A Call for Action
As Vietnam grapples with this measles outbreak, the stories of children like Bo and Dung’s daughter highlight the urgent need for stronger public health initiatives. Vaccination drives must be paired with aggressive awareness campaigns tailored to reach overworked parents and remote communities. Addressing cultural misconceptions through community leaders and local media could also bridge the gap between medical advice and traditional beliefs.
The government and health authorities face mounting pressure to expand access to vaccines and bolster hospital resources to prevent further deaths. International partners, including organizations like the World Health Organization, may need to step in with support for vaccine distribution and training for healthcare workers. For now, the outbreak serves as a sobering reminder of the fragility of public health gains in the face of preventable diseases.
As families across Vietnam wait anxiously by hospital beds or monitor symptoms at home, the question looms: will this crisis spur the systemic changes needed to protect the nation’s youngest citizens, or will more children fall victim to a disease that science has long known how to defeat?
