In the fourth Covid-19 wave, which started in late April 2021, Vietnam has recorded 1,152,926 cases, including 1,150,625 locally-transmitted cases (99.8%). As many as 934,444 patients have recovered from the disease (81%), and 24,083 people died of the virus in 45 out of 63 provinces and cities in the country.

According to the Ministry of Health, in the past seven days, some provinces reported an increase in the number of locally transmitted infections compared to the previous seven days, with an increase of 1,193 cases in Ho Chi Minh City and 1,096 cases in Ba Ria - Vung Tau. The localities that recorded a decrease in the number of infections in the community are Tien Giang with a decrease of 299 cases, An Giang with 185 cases and Ca Mau 28 cases.

The number of locally transmitted cases is increasing in many localities across the country, said the Ministry of Health. The cause is that the pathogen already exists in the community, with many infected people showing no symptoms; and the sources of infection are unknown and are related to people returning from epidemic areas. The outbreaks are concentrated in densely populated areas.

In the coming time, it is possible that many new outbreaks will appear, particularly when the current weather is favorable for the development and spread of the virus. Therefore, the Ministry of Health has requested localities to strengthen disease surveillance measures; promptly detect, isolate and trace virus carriers as quickly as possible; set up mobile medical stations in high-risk areas; prepare resources and develop disease response plans; and strengthen supervision and inspection of epidemic prevention and control at organizations and enterprises, especially at hospitals.

The Ministry of Health said that from March 2021 to November 24, 2021, Vietnam received 135,900,595 doses of Covid-19 vaccines, including 47,506,376 doses of AstraZeneca; 33,326,330 doses of Pfizer and Moderna; 48,700,000 doses of Sinopharm; 5,150,000 doses of Abdala; and 1,217,889 doses of Sputnik V vaccines.

Of a total of 135,900,595 doses received, the Ministry of Health has allocated 135,151,926 doses. Currently, 0.7 million doses of vaccine have not been allocated yet as procedures for quality control are under way, and they are expected to be distributed within a week.

Regarding vaccinations, by November 23, 113,052,609 doses of vaccine had been administered, or 82% of the distributed vaccines, including 67,930,941 of the first dose and 45,121,668 of the second dose.

Local governments are accelerating vaccinations to achieve full coverage of the first dose and give the second dose to those who have had the first. A plan to give a third booster shot, with priority given to people over 50 years old, is in the pipeline.

The number of Covid-19 vaccine doses given to people aged 18 years and over is 110,827,531 doses, with 91.0% injected with the first dose and 62.2% injected with the second dose. By region, the rate in the North is 84.2% and 55.4%, respectively; the Central region 88.3% and 45.1%; the Central Highlands 87.3% and 30.8%; the South 97.6% and 76.8%.

There are 59 provinces and cities that have coverage of at least one dose of vaccine for over 70% of the population aged 18 and over, 23 of which have a coverage rate of over 95%.

The four provinces and cities with the coverage of the first dose of vaccine below 70% of people aged 18 years and older are Son La (60.8%), Nghe An (61.1%), Thanh Hoa (64.2%) and Quang Binh (68.6%). The Ministry of Health has distributed more vaccines to these localities to rapidly increase vaccination coverage.

Currently, 39 out of 63 provinces and cities have a coverage rate of two doses of vaccine for people aged 18 and over reaching over 50%, of which 20 localities have a coverage rate of over 70%. In addition, 26 provinces and cities are providing vaccinations for children aged 12-17.

Ngoc Trang

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