The Prime Minister requested to strengthen management and protection of people at high risk of COVID-19 infection.

Telegram to Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Government agencies; Heads of Steering Committees for COVID-19 Prevention and Control of provinces and centrally run cities; Chairmen of People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities.

The telegram stated: Currently, the situationCOVID-19 epidemicThe COVID-19 epidemic is still complicated in many countries and territories around the world with variants that can spread quickly and cause danger such as Delta and Omicron. In Vietnam, the COVID-19 epidemic situation is basically under control; however, the number of new cases tends to increase, the number of severe patients and deaths in some localities has not decreased, in which the severity of the disease and deaths are still mainly in high-risk groups (people with underlying diseases, people over 50 years old, pregnant women, including people over 18 years old who have not been fully vaccinated against COVID-19).

To proactively manage and monitor health, detect early, strengthen treatment, reduce severe cases and deaths due to COVID-19 to protect people's health and lives, especially those in high-risk groups in the context that the whole country is implementing safe and flexible adaptation, effectively controlling the COVID-19 epidemic, promoting socio-economic recovery and development, and preparing to welcome the New Year and Lunar New Year 2022, the Prime Minister requested:

1. Head of the Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, Chairman of the People's Committee of provinces and centrally run cities direct and organize:

- Strictly manage high-risk groups in the area, organize screening, make lists, and count all people in high-risk groups, households with people in high-risk groups, underlying medical conditions being treated, health status, and support needs.

- Organize vaccination drives, establish vaccination teams to go to every alley, knock on every door, check every person in the high-risk group, perform mobile COVID-19 vaccination right at home, ensuring that no one in the high-risk group is left without being fully vaccinated (except in cases of contraindications), especially those who cannot move.

- Organize care and treatment for people with COVID-19 in high-risk groups: Monitor health, handle and treat immediately upon detection of COVID-19 according to guidelines for classifying the risk of people infected with SARS-CoV-2.

Perform isolation and monitoring at home or at a treatment facility according to the condition, severity of the disease, and conditions of care and treatment at home; with scientific, reasonable, close, and effective support and supervision from medical staff and according to the instructions of the Ministry of Health.

2. Ministry of Health:

- Ensure timely and adequate allocation of vaccines to localities.

- On the basis of current laws, resolutely and urgently guide and create favorable conditions for units, localities and enterprises to import, transfer technology and produce drugs to treat COVID-19 in the spirit of cutting and simplifying administrative procedures; ensuring the principles of timeliness, science and efficiency; at the same time, have measures to strictly control quality and prices and combat all manifestations and acts of taking advantage of corruption, negativity and group interests.

- Provide guidance on management and care for patients with underlying diseases and high-risk people; promptly update and provide guidance on treatment regimens appropriate to the epidemic situation and actual conditions in Vietnam.

3. The Ministry of Industry and Trade shall closely coordinate with the Ministry of Health and the Provincial People's Committees to have drastic, reasonable, scientific, effective and specific solutions and must not allow a shortage of medical oxygen supply to serve the prevention and control of the COVID-19 epidemic for hospitals and medical facilities in all situations of the epidemic; be responsible for directing associations, production and distribution enterprises to increase production and supply of medical oxygen to serve the prevention and control of the COVID-19 epidemic in a timely and effective manner.

Requesting Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Government agencies, Heads of Steering Committees for COVID-19 Prevention and Control of provinces and centrally run cities, Chairmen of People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities to urgently direct the strict and effective implementation of this Official Dispatch./.