Gov’t chief chairs video-teleconference on COVID-19 response

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (center) chairs  video-teleconference with local leaders on COVID-19 prevention and control, Ha Noi, December 10, 2021 - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

The Prime Minister, who is the Head of the National Steering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control, reiterated the preset goal to fully vaccinate the adult population by December 31 and providing booster shoots for prioritized groups including frontline and medical workers and the elderly. 

The Government chief urged local leaders to enable residents to raise their awareness of disease prevention and control especially during the upcoming New Year and Lunar New Year Festivals. 

He underlined the importance of developing a specific roadmap on further reopening of various activities, including the resumption of physical school. 

Risks of new outbreaks emerge at any time

Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long was quoted as saying that the pandemic has been fundamentally put under control in Viet Nam. However, the number of community infections has been on the rise in 40 provinces and cities.

He warned of possible emergence of new outbreaks especially in big cities with high population density.

Mr Nguyen stressed that it is necessary to strengthen measures to prevent disease transmission; early detect infections; improve treatment quality; boost vaccination rate; and minimize fatalities.  

He also warned of subjective psychology and negligence of compliance to disease prevention protocols when the country loosened restrictions. 

So far, Viet Nam has received 156.4 million doses of vaccines out of 211 million doses which the country could access to via business contracts or donations. 

Up to 131 million doses have been administered. Specifically, 96.4% of adults have been partially vaccinated. Over 76.5% of over 18-year-old population has been fully vaccinated. Fifty seven provinces and cities have vaccinated adolescents aged 12-17 against COVID-19 with 6.4 million doses./.

By Kim Anh