At the immunization point at Mac Dinh Chi High School in District 6,

On June 17, 2021, the Ministry of Health (MOH) decided to allocate 800,000 vaccine doses out of 1 million doses of vaccine donated by Japan to the city after 2,072 cases were found in the latest outbreak. Many of them had unknown infection sources.

HCM City has overtaken Bac Ninh province in the north to become the second worst affected locality during the latest Covid-19 outbreak.

On June 21, HCM City kicked off the largest ever vaccination campaign. More than 350 doctors and medical workers from many medical units in HCM City are serving in the campaign. Each team has five medical workers, including two doctors and three nurses.

The medical workers have received two shots of the vaccine and have experience after the first immunization campaign on March 8.

Ten groups of people are prioritized to receive vaccinations this time, including frontline forces fighting against Covid-19, people aged 65 and above, residents in Go Vap District, residents in Tan Thoi Nhat and Thanh Loc Wards in District 12, workers in industrial zones (IZs) and export processing zones (EPZs), among others.

Tran Thi Ly, born in 1984, in Thu Duc City, who works for a company belonging to Cat Lai Port in HCM City, is among those prioritized for vaccination.

“Our company made a list of people for vaccination on June 18. I felt happy and lucky,” Ly said.

She had an afternoon off on June 22 and went with co-workers to the vaccination point in Hiep Phuoc IZ in Nha Be District, where she had her blood pressure measured, had a consultation with doctors, and waited for her turn.

“I got the first shot at 4.30 pm. Medical workers spoke with us before and gave advice after the injection as well,” she said.

Ly said before going to the vaccination site, she read information about what happens before, during and after injection. She also prepared medicine for headaches and fever, and took water.

Many workers at Ly’s company had a temperature, headache, dizziness and fatigue, while Ly only had a little pain in the injection area. She still could go to work the next morning.

She said the developments in HCM City have transmission sources unknown for some cases. Some areas near her home have been isolated, many workers have become jobless or have seen their income decreasing, and live in fear about their health.

On June 21, HCM City kicked off the largest ever vaccination campaign. More than 350 doctors and medical workers from many medical units in HCM City are serving in the campaign. Each team has five medical workers, including two doctors and three nurses.

“I wish that all people can access vaccines so that Vietnam can reach herd immunity and people can gather strength on developing the economy,” she said.

Becoming F1 after injection

Ha Thuy, born in 1990, works for a state-owned bank in District 1, was worried when the fourth wave broke out in HCM City, because she has to meet many people as part of her work.

“On May 27, the city discovered a new infection chain related to the religious mission. All of us at the office then wanted to be vaccinated,” she said.

On June 18, Thuy and her co-workers at the office were informed that they had priority for vaccination.

One June 23, at the immunization point at Mac Dinh Chi High School in District 6, all medical workers in protective suits were ready to receive people at 6 am. Infection tools and vaccines were also prepared.

At 10 am, Thuy arrived at the immunization site. After having her blood pressure taken, she had a health examination and waited her turn.

“I just needed to wait 30 minutes to get the first shot. When I got injection, I felt that medical workers were tired because their shirts were sweaty from working early that morning. However, they were still nice to me. I felt happy and grateful,” Thuy said.

When Thuy got home, she got an urgent notice from the local authorities who asked people who had visited the Co-op Food store on June 8-21 to contact medical units, because a female worker at the store had tested positive and was taken away for quarantine.

The convenience store is near Thuy’s house and she went there on June 21 to buy food and had contact with the worker.

“As I became an F1, I have to make health declaration and give a sample for testing. I have fulfilled all necessary procedures and I am waiting for the results,” she said.

“As I contacted her only once, I still don’t have to be put under concentrated quarantine,” Thuy said.

She isn't too worried as she has been vaccinated. “I have informed my boss about my situation and I am now under quarantine. I hope I will get negative results so that the people around me won’t be affected,” she said. 

Tu Anh

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