Viet Nam prepares two scenarios to manage COVID-19

The Ministry of Health assesses that the COVID-19 epidemic in Vietnam is basically under control. (Photo: VNA/Vietnam+)

Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam has developed two scenarios in response to COVID-19 based on the current situation. The pandemic is considered an endemic disease in the first instance, while the country will remain on standby to take preventive measures as new situations arise.

The Ministry of Health of Vietnam assessed the COVID-19 epidemic in Vietnam is basically under control. From the end of December 2021, after recording the first case of the Omicron variant, the number of cases in the country increased the highest in the first three weeks of March because the Omicron variant dominated the number of cases, then dropped off sharply from end of March to present.

Vietnam's epidemic situation is similar to that of some countries in the region such as Malaysia and Singapore, which peaked about 8 to 9 weeks after recording the Omicron variant. Recently numbers have dropped off sharply in the region.

Normal endemic disease scenario

Professor Dr. Phan Trong Lan - Director of the Ministry of Public Health’s Department of Preventive Medicine said that epidemic prevention and control is not the concern of a region or country, but is of global concern.

According to Professor Dr. Phan Trong Lan - Director of the Ministry of Public Health’s Department of Preventive Medicine, with research and scientific basis from the World Health Organisation (WHO), the health sector has come up with two scenarios for the possible progression of the COVID-19 epidemic.

The director of the Department of Preventive Medicine said that the first scenario is that the circulating Omicron strain will gradually reduce its virulence. In addition, with immunity available from vaccination against COVID-19 and immunity from already infected cases, the number of severe cases and deaths will decline.

Professor Phan Trong Lan - Director of the Health Ministry’s Department of Preventive Medicine. (Photo: Vietnam+)

Pandemic prevention in the new situation

According to the Director of the Department of Preventive Medicine, the understanding of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is still not comprehensive. The continuous appearance of new variants is still possible. These strains can form from the interaction between existing variants or newer strains. It is possible that a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 will continue to emerge that will reduce the protective effect of the vaccine, possibly changing it to spread more widely and increase the risk of severe disease.

“With the second scenario, we will redeploy urgent epidemic prevention measures as we did before. Up to this point, in the prevention of COVID-19, we have had many weapons such as vaccines, therapeutic drugs, treatment experience and non-pharmaceutical measures to prevent the epidemic. However, it is necessary to regularly update more about new therapeutic drugs and especially vaccine technology,” said Professor Dr. Phan Trong Lan - Director of the Ministry of Public Health’s Department of Preventive Medicine.

According to Professor Dr. Phan Trong Lan - Director of the Ministry of Public Health’s Department of Preventive Medicine, currently, vaccines are still a strategic weapon. Although the epidemic is under control, there are still challenges. Possible new variants could become resistant to vaccines.

To date, Vietnam has recorded more than 10 million cases of COVID-19.
With the rate of infections per million people, Vietnam ranks 110 out of 225 countries and territories. Number of deaths per 1 million people ranked 130/225 countries and territories in the world.

The total number of deaths from COVID-19 in Vietnam so far is 42,878, accounting for 0.4 per cent of the total number of infections.

In the context of a decrease in the number of severe infections and deaths, an increase in vaccine coverage, and a continuous decline in the number of new cases has been recorded globally. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the COVID-19 epidemic will not completely disappear. It may soon become an endemic disease.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) also encourages countries to make the transition from pandemic prevention to sustainable management./.