COVID-19 epidemic intensifies, health sector prompted to promote vaccination

In recent days, the COVID-19 epidemic has tended to increase, including seriously ill patients requiring hospitalization at medical facilities. In the context that students at all levels are returning to schools, the health sector urges people to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and actively take their children to vaccination points to receive safe COVID-19 vaccines. .

Vaccination against COVID-19 is made for children in Thu Dau Mot city as COVID-19 tends to increase

According to information from the Department of Health, in the last 2 weeks, the number of positive cases with COVID-19 has increased in worrying tendancy the increasing number of patients hospitalized and seriously transferred for treatment at medical facilities, which are likely related to previously recorded outbreaks in the locality.

Along with the high number of infections, the number of hospitalized and seriously ill patients has also increased. Currently, the whole province is collecting and treating 76 patients of COVID-19 with moderate to severe symptoms and underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, stroke, heart failure, etc. Some patients have not received the full dose of vaccines and been carefully monitored to avoid serious progression of the disease. The number of critically ill patients increased with 6 patients requiring oxygen including 3 patients requiring invasive mechanical ventilation.

The province has 514 patients being treated, 47 patients being treated at medical facilities across the triage. In particular, the patients being treated include some children who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19. Currently, the health sector is strengthening monitoring of variants and mutations in severe cases and deaths, re-evaluate human resources, equipment, and chemical supplies to prepare model of 4 on the spot to respond to epidemics. The health sector also urges people to get vaccinated against COVID-19 on schedule and at the right doses and mobilize their children and relatives to actively get vaccinated.

Mr. Huynh Minh Chin, Deputy Director of the Department of Health said: “The number of COVID-19 infections tends to increase, prompting the Department of Health directs hospitals to always prepare the number of beds to receive COVID-19 patients, especially the number of ICU beds.” Meanwhile, at district hospitals, the number of hospitalized COVID-19 cases in the past 2 weeks has also increased. Hospitals are always fully prepared with medicines, supplies, and protection to meet the needs of treatment. Patients are closely monitored against any serious progression beyond the capacity, in which cases they will be promptly referred to capable facilities.

COVID-19 vaccination boosted

In Binh Duong, implementing the peak month of disease prevention and control and vaccination against COVID-19 in the province, the vaccination rate among target groups has tended to increase in recent days. Basically, the province has covered 2 doses of basic vaccines for the people with a high rate of infection. In terms of target groups, up to this point, the province has had more than 298,900 injections for children aged 5-11, of which the first dose reached 71.8% of the population, and the second dose reached 40.1%. For children from 12 to 17 years old, the first dose of the province reached 114.5 percent of the population, the second dose 105.8% and the third dose 40.6%. Currently, the health sector is coordinating with the Department of Education and Training to continue speeding up the rate of basic dose injection for children aged 5-11 and booster vaccination for children aged 12-17. In addition, the sector also coordinates with localities, the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, the Management Board of Industrial Parks to give injections to workers in industrial parks to provide basic services.

Facing the increasing trend of the COVID-19 epidemic, many people have had a change in awareness about the preventive effects of vaccines. In particular, through the implementation of the peak month for disease prevention and control and vaccination against COVID-19 in the province, and in parallel with the vaccination rate in the target groups that is tending to increase, people's awareness is higher about vaccines to protect themselves from infection. The case of Ms. Nguyen Thi Ut, living in Phu My ward, Thu Dau Mot city is a typical example. Ut's family has 5 people but 4 people have had 2 booster shots of 3rd and 4^th doses. Only a 6-year-old child has had the 1st injection which was not enough time to inject the 2nd dose. Ms. Ut said: “In the past, I don't want to have my child vaccinated, but before the epidemic intensification and the coming school year, I decided to take my 6-year-old son to vaccination. I think the vaccine has been licensed by the World Health Organization for circulation in many countries to avoid the risk of infection."

Reported by Hoang Linh – Translated by Vi Bao