WHO representative in Vietnam Dr Angela Pratt. (Photo: Ministry of Health)Hanoi (VNA) – World Health Organisation (WHO) representative in Vietnam DrAngela Pratt has said that Vietnam is in the sustainable management phase ofthe COVID-19 pandemic as the situation continues to stabilise with a very lownumber of reported daily cases, and importantly no reported deaths in over twomonths.
In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency, the official said that nowin the fourth year of the pandemic, Vietnam and the world are in a much betterplace than they were even 12 months ago.
“Thetools and vaccines we have are proven to protect lives and significantly reducerisk of severe illness and death and also, in most places, to enable healthsystems to function more normally again,” she said.
She added it is hoped that 2023 will be the year in which COVID-19 can be said to be over as apublic health emergency of international concern.
AssessingVietnam's response to the COVID-19 pandemic for each stage of the pandemic,Angela said that from the start, Vietnam hadwell-calibrated and strong public health and social measures in place.
These included a strong capacity for early detection and response, robustsurveillance measures, strong border measures, and social restrictions,community adherence to personal protective behaviours; and healthcarecapacity.
“All ofthese measures kept cases and deaths low until vaccines were available, with Vietnamhaving one of the lowest death rates in the region, especially early on in thepandemic,” she said.
“Thiswas made possible through strong and effective government leadership, greatcommunity efforts, and a tireless contribution from the health sector, inparticular, health workers.”
Illustrative photo (Photo: VNA)Vietnam did an incredible job rolling out the primary series of COVID-19vaccines in 2021 and 2022, she said, adding that the speed and scale of therollout, including efforts to ensure vaccines reach every corner of thecountry, is one of the great success stories of the country’s COVID-19response, and the region more broadly.
She saidthe Government of Vietnam, particularly the Ministry of Health, health workers, businesses, communities, and partners are all to be commended fortheir efforts.
“As a result of these efforts, in 2022, Vietnam did anexcellent job of transitioning to what we call the ‘sustained management’ phaseof COVID-19 - balancing social and economic development with public health measuresto protect the vulnerable and the health system,” she emphasised.
However, she said with the pandemic unfortunately not over yet – the world must remain vigilant, keepingup strong surveillance, ensuring everyone eligible, especially those mostvulnerable, are vaccinated and boosted, and also continuing to encourage peopleto be mindful of their risk.
“Withthe government remaining vigilant and communities remaining mindful, we cancontinue to protect the health system and build on Vietnam’s impressiveeconomic and social recovery,” she said.
The WHOofficial said that if Vietnam maintains preparedness for worsened pandemicdevelopment, with its experience of the past three years and the NationalPandemic Preparedness and Response Plan continuing to be reviewed, the countryis well placed to respond to future outbreaks.
Shenoted that it’s really important to continue to strengthen the health system toensure it can cope with a surge in cases; sustain and build up healthcareworkforce capacity; keep up-to-date with vaccinations for eligible populationsand prepare for mass vaccination if needed; and enhance multi-sourcesurveillance, testing, and sequencing, to detect possible genomic changes andmutations.
Accordingto the WHO, three years after WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros AdhanomGhebreyesus declared COVID-19 as a global health emergency of internationalconcern, there have been over 760 million confirmed cases and almost 7 milliondeaths reported globally.
From thebeginning of the pandemic to March 24, 2023, Vietnam reported nearly 11.53million COVID-19 infections, of that more than 10.61 million cases haverecovered from the disease. COVID-19 killed 43,186 people in Vietnam,accounting for 0.4% of total infections. Nearly 266 million COVID-19 vaccinedoses have been administered in the country./.
