WHO hails Vietnam’s effective control of COVID-19 pandemic

Dr. Angela Pratt, representative of the WHO in Vietnam, said the country has successfully controlled the number of deaths and fresh infections thanks to the timely deployment of effective social and public health measures.

After initially receiving COVID-19 vaccines, the country launched an urgent vaccine coverage campaign by delivering shots to all citizens in every corner of the country, said Dr. Pratt at a national conference reviewing COVID-19 control efforts which was held on October 29 in Hanoi.

According to the WHO official, the success of the vaccine campaign enabled the country to swiftly reopen its doors and quickly reboot its economy to maximum capacity.

Vietnam’s response to COVID-19 has therefore become a reference model for many countries worldwide, she noted.

In her opinion, the country did a good job in swiftly detecting, tracing, isolating, and responding to outbreaks, as well as by closing its borders and enforcing a blockade in affected areas.

Besides having a contingent of devoted healthcare workers, the country acquired vaccines from various sources and immediately deployed a vaccination campaign nationwide aimed at achieving herd immunity as soon as possible.

The COVID-19 fight received great support from people of all social strata, and more importantly was the leading role of the Government and the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, said Dr. Pratt.

She assured that the WHO would provide continued support for Vietnam in reviewing and updating its pandemic response plan in the future.

At the event, delegates examined lessons learned and proposed directions after more than three years of combating the pandemic. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh also announced the completion of the tasks of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.

Vietnam recorded the first COVID-19 infection on January 23, 2020. So far it has logged 11,624,100 infections and 43,206 deaths.