Looking back on year’s vaccinations, the ‘shield’ campaign a success

Hanoi (VNA) - Exactly one year after launching its COVID-19 vaccination campaign, Vietnam has injected nearly 198.3 million doses and become one of the six countries with the highest vaccine coverage rate in the world.

On March 8, 2021, the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine was given in the northern province of Hai Duong.

A year later, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stated the vaccination campaign was a success, achieving a very high coverage rate in the world. Research is underway for the injection of the fourth shot, added the Government leader.

Vaccine the safest ‘shield’

The past year was a testimony of the Vietnamese Government’s efforts in accelerating the vaccination speed in a bid to prevent and control the pandemic in a safe, effective and flexible manner. A highlight of the vaccination campaign was the 30 days (January 29 – February 28, 2022) of a spring operation that offered 14 million doses, mostly second shots and boosters.

Between March 8, 2021, and now, Vietnam received more than 219 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, of which 197.5 million were already injected. Over 17.02 million were given to children aged from 12 to 17, while more than 190.88 million to people aged 18 and above.

The country has basically given two doses of vaccine for people aged 12 and over. The rate of 3rd dose injection now stands at 37.4%, which is basically meeting progress.

Vaccines are the safest "shield" in the pandemic prevention and control, said the Prime Minister. The earlier the vaccination is done, the safer, he noted, adding that ensuring timely work has contributed to preventing severe cases and deaths.

From the first case to date, the country has recorded more than 4.5 million infections, more than 2.5 million recoveries (63.8%), and 40,891 deaths. Compared to the previous month, the number of community cases nationwide increased by 197%, while that of deaths, hospitalised cases, and severe and critically ill patients decreased by 47%, 24%, and 43%, respectively. The mortality/infection rate of the last 30 days was 0.2%, down from the 1% recorded last month.

According to the Ministry of Health, the epidemic is basically under control nationwide. All localities have transitioned to the state of safely, flexibly, and effectively adapting to and controlling the COVID-19 pandemic following the Government’s Resolution 128/NQ-CP. However, the number of new cases tended to increase rapidly in most of the provinces and cities in the past month, with more than 100,000 cases logged per day. A higher number of infections were recorded in the unvaccinated group, especially the under two years old. The number of deaths was around 100 per day - still within the response capacity of the health system.

Vaccination remains top priority

According to Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long, the number of people infected with the Omicron variant seems to have rapidly increased in recent times in provinces and cities, especially Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The variant is gradually replacing the Delta variant.

He also affirmed that the current vaccines are still particularly effective in reducing severity, death and hospitalisation, even regarding the Omicron strain.

The vaccines have thus far been effectively used without wastefulness, assessed the ministry.

In the near future, Vietnam will implement a plan to vaccinate children aged 5 to 11 against COVID-19 and is studying the data to support giving the 4th dose to people.

The Prime Minister emphasised the need for quicker vaccination in the first quarter to complete the 3rd shot for people aged 18 and older and the 2nd injection for those of the 12-17 age group in March; as well as to prepare for vaccinating children aged 5-11./.