Booster injections, strengthening the epidemic prevention on holidays and Lunar New Year

Vaccine jabs for students in Ha Noi. (Photo: Quang Vinh)

F0 patients shall access medical services

Over the past time, localities, ministries and sectors have seriously implemented the Government's Resolution No. 128/NQ-CP on "Safe adaptation, flexibly, and effectively controlling the COVID-19 pandemic". The resolution is the basis for localities to promulgate and implement administrative and professional medical measures in time to every level of the pandemic.

The people are more aware of the COVID-19 epidemic and the response to the Covid-19 pandemic for preparedness than they were before. Under the direction of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, the preparation in terms of posture, resources and implementation plans to combat the epidemic from the central to local levels have helped the country soon return to the new normality.

According to the National Communications Subcommittee, currently, the infected cases in many localities are still recorded daily in the community and there is no sign of reduction, creating challenges.

The Ministry of Health has promulgated written requests for localities to evaluate and draw lessons from experience and recommendations after a period of implementation of Resolution 128/NQ-CP to serve as a basis for advice and adjustment of prevention efforts against the COVID-19 epidemic in the near future.

It is encouraged to initiate the proactive provision of information, and the relevant localities are requested to provide information on vaccination progress and a plan to deploy booster jabs, including updated information on the use of the batch of Pfizer vaccine with its expiry date having been extended by the Health Ministry.

When promulgating documents directing localities on epidemic prevention and control, if there are any problems in implementation or in communication, the Ministry of Health must coordinate promptly with the National Communications Subcommittee to clarify the queries and provide the information with satisfactory replies, to avoid creating an inhibitory psychological effects assuming that all responsibilities belong to the local authorities.

The information on guidelines for assessing epidemic levels and necessary measures to prevent and control the epidemic in accordance with disease developments must be proactively provided, in the context of coming winter weather and the risk of Omicron mutations.

The actual situation must be informed in timely manner of localities that have upgraded the epidemic level compared to the epidemic level determined by the Ministry of Health, while there are no new guidelines on assessment of the epidemic level; information on sufficient supply of antiretroviral drugs (drug bag C), ensuring the provision of medicines to all people infected with the virus who need to take them as soon as possible; information on water supply in the house and the facilities, and the capacity of the health system at all levels, avoiding the situation of being overloaded at upper-level hospitals.

It is also to provide sufficient information and guidance for people on drugs to treat COVID-19, with scenarios when having to treat patients at home. It is absolutely prohibited to let positive patients themselves unable to access the medical services, not being given drugs, or administered or monitored.

“Stay safe during the holiday seasons, Lunar New Year is fun for everyone”

The savaging epidemic is continuously getting complicated and unpredictable, especially the appearance of the Omicron variant, at the time of the upcoming New Year and Lunar New Year holidays. Therefore, the communication needs to be further promoted, with special emphasis on risk factors and individual behaviors that can spread the disease.

It is to strengthen the communication to effectively implement the discipline of "5K plus vaccine, treatment drugs, technology and plus people's consciousness"; to proactively prevent and control the COVID-19 epidemic on the occasion of Solar New Year, and then Lunar New Year.

The working group of Hang Trong Ward (Hoan Kiem district) checks and reminds people not to gather in large crowds during Christmas at the Cathedral area. (Source: PLO)

The information on travellers’ entries into the cities, especially cases coming to/from countries where the new strain Omicron has been recorded; the message “Stay safe during the holiday seasons, Lunar New Year is fun for everyone" should be transmitted through.

The communication must be consistent and responsible to show the views and guidance of the Government, the Prime Minister, and the National Steering Committee in the prevention and control of the COVID-19 epidemic, requesting more speed in vaccination and the proper performance of vaccination campaign "coming to every alley, knocking on every house door, checking the health of everyone to give him a jab", to hit the scheduled vaccination targets. The media encourages people to get booster jabs, especially for those with underlying medical problems.

The mass communication upholds the responsibility of localities and promptly warns and reflects cases related to corruption, negativity, and interest groups in epidemic prevention and control.

Regarding the research, production, licensing process, quality of testing biological products for the prevention and control of the COVID-19 epidemic related to the regulation violation on bidding, causing serious consequences at “Viet A” Company, the press is requested to carefully study the information provided by the competent authority; to provide objective, verifiable news, without attribution, speculation, inference, or arbitrary criticism, so as not to negatively affect the investigation and case handling process, as well as the epidemic prevention and control.

It is required to reflect truthfully the assessments of the people, businesses, authorities, and the epidemic prevention - control steering committees at all levels about the results of the implementation of Resolution No. 128/NQ-CP of the Government in the past time.

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