Da Nang will offer a fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to 24,530 adults aged 18 years and older along with 23,491 people over 50 during the week, the Da Nang Department of Health said on Tuesday. The city’s booster vaccination programme will come to an end on June 20.

A healthcare profesional administering a Covid-19 vaccine to a woman in mask Photo: LE HUNG

Overall, a total of around 50,660 eligible people in Da Nang will get their fourth booster jab under this booster vaccination rollout.

COVID-19 vaccine given as a fourth booster jab provides stronger immunity compared to a third booster dose, according to international health experts.

Fourth dose mRNA booster vaccines for COVID-19 are also effective at increasing both antibody and cellular immunity up to and above baseline and peak levels observed following third dose boosters.

While pain at vaccination site and fatigue were the most common side effects, there were no vaccine-related serious adverse events and fourth doses were safe and well tolerated.

The beneficiaries are health staff and employees working in factories and industrial parks.

Healthcare facilities across Da Nang and the Authority of the Hi-Tech Parks and Industrial Parks will identify all people who are eligible for the fourth dose. The authorities at local level will take responsibility for identify all 18s and those over 50 who are at high risk of COVID-19 infection in their locales to encourage them to roll up their sleeves for a fourth time.

COVID-19 vaccinations will be available at district-level healthcare centres, the Da Nang General Hospital, the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital.

Under the regulations of the Ministry of Health, all vaccination sites must meet strict standards for storing and preserving the vaccines, be arranged to include designated areas for reception, waiting, clinical screening, vaccination rooms, post-injection monitoring rooms, and anaphylactic treatment rooms with one-way rule, be equipped with anaphylactic treatment boxes, and comply with epidemic prevention regulations.

All vaccination sites will do temperature checks on people before entry allowing space for social distancing and a 30-minute recovery time. Strictest health and safety measures, especially the 5K recommendations of the Ministry of Health, are being put in place at these venues.

Beneficiaries are required to undergo medical checks, and they are provided with medical advice and post-vaccination observation.

Protocols have been established for the management of adverse reactions following immunization. Healthcare workers are prepared to recognize and treat allergic reactions.

Reporting by PHAN CHUNG – translating by H.L