The number of people infected with the BA.5 variant in Vietnam may increase

Professor Phan Trong Lan - Director of the Department of Preventive Medicine, Ministry of Health said that since the beginning of the year, the BA.2 sub-variant of Omicron has been dominant, with mild clinical manifestations. To date, Vietnam has announced 3 cases of infection with the BA.5 sub-variant in Hanoi.

This is completely within the forecast because the number of BA.5 cases outside Vietnam is constantly increasing, increasing every week. With travel and trade opening up, the new variant entering is only a matter of time. The Ministry of Health also confirmed that currently, BA.2 is dominant but BA.5 is at risk of overwhelming the old variant. The number of cases of this new variant may increase in the coming time.

Professor Phan Trong Lan cited that the BA.4 and BA.5 variants spread 10-13% faster than BA.1 and BA.2. At the same time, they have the ability to escape immunity - meaning that people who have contracted BA.1 and BA.2 can contract BA.4 and BA.5.

Vietnam promotes the injection of 3-4 doses of Covid-19 vaccine. Photo: Thanh Chung

However, up to this point, the Covid-19 vaccine has proven effective against new variants of SARS-CoV-2. Professor Phan Trong Lan affirmed that the vaccine helps the body develop immunity, reduces the risk of infection, reduces the risk of severe illness and death when infected. The 3rd-4th vaccination will strengthen and maintain the body's immunity.

According to Professor Lan, the nature of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is unpredictable, within a moderate range, new variants will appear. Even more variants will appear and become mutants. "That means SARS-CoV-3, 4 can happen," Professor Phan Trong Lan warned.

"In the current scenario, the variants are still able to respond to the vaccine, are not more severe, and are vaccinated as directed. Even though the new variant spreads faster, it is still able to respond."

However, Vietnam still has to prepare for the worst-case scenario: a new variant appears for which the vaccine is no longer effective, spreading quickly, becoming severe, and making diagnosis difficult.

“In addition to the measures taken in the past, social and administrative measures may have to be established to protect people's lives first and foremost,” predicted Prof. Phan Trong Lan. Dr. Socorro Escalante, Acting WHO Representative in Vietnam, said that Vietnam has vaccinated its people with Covid-19 vaccine at a very high rate. The current vaccine is effective againstBA.4 and BA.5 variantsThis is the reason why the Vietnamese Government still recommends that people should get booster shots.

According to the Ministry of Health, as of February 2022, the basic Covid-19 vaccinations nationwide have been almost fully covered. Up to now, after 4-6 months, immunity for these people has decreased.

"In particular, people with weakened immune systems and the elderly will have their immunity further reduced. Therefore, these people need to get booster shots on schedule and in the right dose to maintain immunity and prevent the disease from entering," emphasized Prof. Dr. Phan Trong Lan.

On July 2, the Government Office issued Document No. 4114/VPCP-KGVX conveying the Prime Minister's instructions.

In the context of the emergence of the new variant BA.5 of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and its infiltration into Vietnam, increasing the risk of a resurgence of the epidemic, the Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Health to urgently and more drastically urge and support localities to accelerate Covid-19 vaccination, especially the 3rd and 4th doses for people aged 12 and older.