Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requested not to let 'epidemic overlap epidemic' during Tet

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chairs a meeting of the National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control on the afternoon of December 23. Photo: Nhat Bac

On the afternoon of December 23, at the 19th meeting of the National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh noted that the epidemic is under control but not subjective, continuing to implement the 2K message (masks, disinfection) + vaccine + medicine + treatment + technology + public awareness and other measures.

The Ministry of Health and localities are ready to ensure the fight against Covid-19 during the New Year and Lunar New Year.

Emphasizing that vaccines are still the most important "weapon", the Prime Minister requested to increase vaccination for high-risk groups. Vaccination targets will be linked to personal responsibility, and those who cause epidemic consequences will be held responsible. People are encouraged to get vaccinated on schedule.

Regarding ensuring medicine and medical supplies, the Prime Minister requested ministries, branches and localities to "not shirk responsibility, respond promptly to policies"; amend relevant circulars; review problems in decrees for urgent amendment.

Localities should concentrate their forces, heighten vigilance, prevent epidemics from overlapping during Tet and ensure food hygiene and safety. "People are advised to wear masks and disinfect crowded places during Christmas, New Year, and Lunar New Year to prevent and limit the spread of Covid-19 and other diseases," said the Prime Minister.

At the meeting, the representative of the Ministry of Health said that the epidemic is still unpredictable. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently warned of more than 500 Omicron sub-variants, which are highly transmissible and evade the immune system. Covid-19 is in the pandemic stage. Therefore, vaccines are still an important measure.

The Ministry of Health predicts that in the coming time, there will be a potential risk of new Covid-19 outbreaks due to new variants. At the same time, the changing seasons also pose a risk of respiratory disease outbreaks, leading to overlapping epidemics.

Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan reports at the meeting on the afternoon of December 23. Photo: Nhat Bac

During the New Year, Lunar New Year and festival season, the demand for trade and tourism increases, and the weather changes abnormally, creating favorable conditions for infectious diseases to spread, which can increase the number of infections. Children with weak resistance and the elderly with underlying diseases are susceptible to infectious diseases.

Therefore, the Ministry of Health recommends closely monitoring the emergence of new Covid-19 variants and regularly assessing and analyzing the situation to develop response scenarios. Units update professional guidance and support localities in epidemic prevention.

Medical facilities are ready with plans and conditions to ensure the prevention of Covid-19 and other epidemics during Tet; well organize admission and treatment, ensure medicine, supplies, medical equipment and human resources.

In addition to fighting the Covid-19 epidemic, the Ministry recommends that localities strengthen the fight against other emerging and endemic diseases such as dengue fever, hand, foot and mouth disease, adenovirus, influenza, avian influenza, and monkeypox.

The Ministry of Education and Training urges to increase vaccination for preschool children and students. Units develop vaccination plans for 2023, based on professional recommendations and survey results on vaccination for children from 6 months to under 5 years old.

Nationwide, 265 million doses of vaccine have been administered. Compared to the end of October, the rate of third-dose vaccination for adults (18 years and older) has "insignificantly increased", as localities have completed vaccination for this group. In some places, the vaccination rate is low due to people's lack of consensus despite advocacy and communication.

The coverage rate of the third dose of vaccine for children aged 12 to 18 and the second dose for children aged 5 to under 12 is not high; the third and fourth doses of vaccine for adults are low in some places.

After nearly 3 years of fighting the pandemic, the involvement of localities and sectors has "significantly decreased, not as drastic as in the early stages of the vaccination campaign". Vaccination is mainly undertaken by the health sector. The pandemic is under control, the country has returned to a new normal state, so people are complacent and do not get vaccinated.