The Da Nang government is urging the health sector to work with authorities at local level to encourage local residents to roll up their sleeves for a second COVID-19 booster as uptake is still lagging after the city’s launching of the vaccine booster drive in recent days. The main cause of low coverage rate of second booster shots is subjective awareness of COVID-19 risk among local residents as COVID-19 is thought to become less dangerous as it evolves so booster shots are not needed for them at this time.

A health professional giving a second booster shot for an eligible man. Photo: PHAN CHUNG

Under the city’s COVID-19 booster vaccination program, Son Tra District has rolled out fourth doses to all adults aged over 18 since June 13. Around 111,600 people (including those who temporarily reside in the district) who are 18 years or older in the  district are eligible for a second COVID-19 booster dose. 7 vaccination sites have been set up across the district to offer the second booster.

Rates of first- , second and third-dose coverage in the district reached 99.7%, 99.5% and 86.1%, respectively. However, more than 2,200 people or about 1.99% of the district’s COVID-19 booster vaccination target have got their second booter shots after 10 days of the delivery of COVID-19 booster jabs.

COVID-19 booster shots are being rolled out across the city. As of June 23, 2,a total of 192 fourth doses had been given to eligible adults in Cam Le District with coverage rate of 8.4%, 2,181 shots offered in Hai Chau District with coverage rate of 3.9%, 1,786 jabs in  Hoa Vang District with coverage rate of 6.9%, 3,542 doses in Lien Chieu District with coverage rate of 9.1%, 2,415 shots in Ngu Hanh Son District with coverage rate of 11.8%.

Da Nang began to offer the second COVID-19 booster jab to adults aged over 18 on June 13, and about 243,400 people will be invited for boosters. As of June 23, 20,850 people or 8.6% of the total had received their fourth doses.

Mr. Tran Van Ty, the Deputy Head of the Authority of Da Nang Hi-Tech Park and Industrial Parks (IPs) said that the level of fourth dose uptake among employees in local IPs only reaches about 3.2%, while rates of first- , second and third-dose coverage among them were 99.8%, 98.5% and 93.8% respectively.

According to Dr. Truong Van Trinh, the Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Health, the coronavirus pandemic is showing signs of slowing down in Da Nang, and the country as a whole, and this makes people ignore infection prevention and control measures for COVID-19, including refusing vacinations.

The Da Nang government underlined the need for local relevant agencies to increase public awareness of the benefits of the second booster shot as the efficacy of boosters against COVID-19 will likely decline over time, and people need a fourth shot to increase their protection in order to prepare for a possible COVID-19 resurgence. The fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine series for people with immunocompromised conditions, will continue to protect individuals from serious illness, hospitalization, and death from SARS-CoV-2.

“Da Nang sees a number of people have a second COVID-19 infection as their immunity to the virus have disappeared. There are lots of symptoms you can have after a COVID-19 infection although COVID-19 is not leading to severe disease or death as often as before. Vaccination is still your best protection against severe COVID-19, " remarked Doctor Trinh.

Reporting by PHAN CHUNG – Translating by H.L