Hanoi will intensify the Covid-19 pandemic combat with its highest sense of responsibility, Vice Chairman of the municipal People's Committee Chu Xuan Dung said at a meeting with relevant units this week.

Dung appreciated the localities' efforts in stepping up the communication work over the past time, so the Covid-19 pandemic situation has been well controlled in the capital city.

"However, the Covid19 vaccination for locals, especially the 5-12-year-old age group, has not gone as expected. Localities need to focus on ensuring safety when administering Covid-19 vaccine to children, thereby encouraging their parents to agree to their child vaccination," Dung said. 

Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Health Vu Cao Cuong presents the report at the meeting. Photo: The Hanoi Times

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Health Vu Cao Cuong reported that as of August 11, the capital city has received and distributed over 17.5 million doses of vaccine, of which nearly 17.2 million doses have been used and his department keeps administering the injections in accordance with the guidance of the Ministry of Health.

“We continue to finalize the administration of the third and fourth doses of Covid-19 vaccines to adults soon and speed up the injection of the third dose among the people aged over 12 as soon as possible,” Cuong said.

He stressed the importance of booster shots for local residents in the capital city. Therefore, localities need to step up the review work so as not to miss the people that need injections.

As of August 11, Hanoi has recorded more than 1,600 Covid-19 cases and 112 days without deaths from Covid-19 (since April 19, 2022). Currently, there are around 3,350 cases being put under supervision, of which 118 are hospitalized, and the rest are treated at home.

Vaccination for the 6th-grade students in Ha Dong District of Hanoi. Photo: Bich Hoi

In an interview with The Hanoi Times via phone, Director of the municipal Department of Health Tran Thi Nhi Ha explained that the rise of Covid-19 cases in the capital city was due to people’s negligence.

As of August 12, 99.9% of the local population aged over 18  got at least one shot of Covid-19 vaccines, 96.5% received the third dose, and 15.6% were given the second booster (fourth dose), Ha added.

“Among children aged from 5 to 12, only 20.07% have been administered with the first dose. The inoculation for children needs the approval from their parents as well as the drastic engagement of agencies and the public,” the director noted.

She said that her department has rolled out a number of measures to expand vaccination coverage, including strengthening communications on the benefits of vaccination, enhancing the sense of responsibility of local leaders in preventing the resurgence of the pandemic, and strictly inspecting vaccination activities to make sure that vaccines are used in a timely manner.