Safe and effective 3rd dose vaccination against COVID-19

Currently in the continually complicated situation of the Covid-19 epidemic as the casualty tends to increase in the group over 50 years old with high-risk underlying diseases and ccording to medical experts, the third dose of the vaccine is considered a necessary solution in controlling the disease and minimizing hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19.

Third dose of vaccines against COVID-19 is administered to vulnerable subjects at Hospital of Rehabilitation

Safety of each shot

I1n the morning of December 17, the provincial Hospital of Rehabilitation administered the 3^rd booster shots of COVID-19 vaccines on people aged 60 and older with underlying diseases and moderate and severe immunodeficiency. To ensure injection safety, all people who come to inject themselves must present documents proving that they have had 2 injections and had a thorough screening before the injection and monitor of their health for 30 minutes after the injection under the supervision of a medical staff. Most of the patients who came to the hospital for injections were previously listed and were those who had not been vaccinated to receive the 1st injection and the 2nd dose as well as the  3rd injection for high-risk subjects.

M.D. Lai Van Thang, Director of the provincial Hospital of Rehabilitation, said the third dose of the vaccines has a great effect in protecting high-risk groups, especially the elderly with underlying diseases because many people have had 2 injections, but the immunity was not good enough. Researches by companies show that people who have received the 3rd injection have a very low mortality rate. During the implementation of the 3rd injection, the hospital paid special attention to the pre-vaccination screening stage to ensure safety in each injection. All steps of vaccination are guaranteed to be safe according to the regulations of Ministry of Health including strict implementation of the "5K message" along with fully equipped with protective equipment as prescribed.

Waiting in line to wait for the doctor's turn to receive the third dose of vaccine, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hin, from Thu Dau Mot City, 60 years old, suffering from cancer, said: “I am currently taking medicine to treat cervical cancer, I registered the hospital for injection 3 to increase immunity. The epidemic is still complicated and unpredictable, so getting the 3rd injection gives me some peace of mind." Also in the same excited mood as Mrs. Hin, Ms. Luong Hoai Lan, living in Thu Dau Mot city who completed the 3rd injection, said: “I am very happy to receive the 3rd dose of Covid-19 vaccine. Get the 3rd injection to protect the health of yourself, your family and the social community against the COVID-19 pandemic. Before entering the injection, the doctor carefully screened me, measured my blood pressure, asked about my medical history, and also instructed me to closely monitor the reaction after the injection."

Previously, the provincial Center for Disease Control also organized the 3rd injection for frontline forces fighting the epidemic or on duty in high-risk areas who had completed the 2nd vaccination in full.

Vaccine boosters are necessary

Dr. Nguyen Hong Chuong, Director of Department of Health, said that the analysis of the morality from COVID-19 in the province in the past few days showed that most of the patients having at least one serious underlying disease were those who have not been vaccinated or received less than 2 doses of the vaccines. Currently, having 2 doses of basic vaccines is important to reduce the risk of severe progression and death. Having 2 doses of the vaccine reduces the risk of severe COVID-19 infection and mortality, but for people who are susceptible to Covid-19 due to advanced age, underlying disease it is still at high risk.

According to experts, getting vaccinated on time will help COVID-19 gradually become a common flu. The booster vaccination is necessary because the COVID-19 vaccines are new and the antibodies will decline after about 8-12 months. Universal vaccine coverage is important in reducing the number of serious illnesses and deaths. The infections on 3rd dose of COVID-19 vaccine have milder symptoms than the 1st and 2nd dose. Adverse events after the 3rd dose injection were not different from the 1st and 2nd doses. Most of the reactions were common such as swelling pain and systemic reactions such as fever, fatigue, muscle pain, joint pain etc. Unusual and rare reactions that may occur after vaccination with the 3rd dose vaccine are anaphylaxis, myocarditis, pericarditis etc. Vaccinators need to be monitored for 30 minutes after receiving the Covid-19 vaccine at the vaccination site and continue to self-monitor their health for at least the first 7 days after vaccination against COVID-19.

At this time, in order to inject the 3rd dose safely and avoid complications, experts say that, on strict scientific theory, if you want to know which booster injection is appropriate, it must be based on experimental research. Along with the implementation of the 3rd injections, Binh Duong continues to deploy the 2nd injection for those who have had enough time to get the 1st injection and vaccinate those who have not been vaccinated. According to Mr. Nguyen Loc Ha, Standing Member of the provincial Party Committee, Deputy Chairman of the provincial People's Committee: "People who have had 2 injections and 3 doses of the vaccines should not be subjective, neglect and must comply with "5K". The epidemic is also complicated with the mutant strain of Omicron, people must wear masks regularly, disinfect hands, do not gather in large numbers, keep a distance, and avoid close contact. These are the most effective preventive measures.”

At an online meeting of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control with provinces and cities on solutions to more effectively implement Resolution 128 of the government, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, the head of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control suggested localities to be more agile in administering the COVID-19 vaccines, by the end of December 2021, to complete the 2nd injection for each from 18 years old; in January 2022, they must complete the 3rd injection for people aged 18 years old and the 2nd injection for people 12-18 years old. Vaccination for children from 5 years old is carried out according to the conclusions of competent authorities and needs studying and carefully evaluating.

Reported by Hoang Linh – Translated by Vi Bao

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