The Da Nang education and training sector is working with the health sector and authorities at local level to boost COVID-19 vaccinations for local population, especially school pupils in line with the direction from the municipal government.

The Da Nang government is urging the education and training sector and relevant agencies along with authorities at local level to implement rapid rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination program for school pupils. IN THE PHOTO: A heathcare professional giving a COVID-19 vaccine to a school pupil in Hai Chau District. Photo: PHAN CHUNG

Doctor Tran Thanh Thuy, the Acting Director of the municipal Department of Health said that Da Nang is among Vietnamese localities with low vaccine coverage. Till date, the rate of second booster coverage among people aged 18 and over  in Da Nang has reached 37%  while the figure in the whole country has reached 57%. Meanwhile, the rate of first booster coverage among young people aged 12 to 17 in Da Nang has reached 16.69% while the figure in the whole country has reached 38.9%. Rates of first- , and second- dose coverage among children aged 5 to 11 in Da Nang have reached 34.69% and 14.3%, respectively while these figures in the whole country have reached 72.2% and 40.4%, respectively.

Mrs Thuy pointed out biggest challenge facing the healthcare sector is the unwillingness of the public to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

In its efforts to realise the city’s goal of administering close to 172,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines in August, the city’s health sector is urging authorities at local level and relevant agencies to educate local residents and build confidence around the COVID-19 vaccines in an attempt to shift the public mindset from vaccine concern to vaccine confidence as well as encourage public’s willingness to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

The Da Nang government has tasked the education and training sector to take all necessary measures to ensure that all children aged 5 to 11 and young people aged 12 to 17 plus teaching staff across the city receive their jabs to protect themselves from COVID-19 before new accademic year starts.

Mrs Le Thi Bich Thuan, the Director of the municipal Department of Education and Training said that the education and training sector has rolled out its COVID-19 vaccination campaign for school pupils and its teaching staff since early August. The purpose of the campaign is to ensure effective implementation of guidelines of Viet Nam’s national government on COVID-19 prevention and control in which vaccines are considered an effective means of controlling COVID-19.

 “The goal of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign is to ensure that 100% of the city’s young people aged 12 to 17 and at least 70% of the city’s children aged 5 to 11 get their first shots while 100% of the city’s eligible teaching staff receive their first dose and at least 80% of the city’s get their boosters”, Mr Thuan remarked.

School pupils in the city are waiting their turn for the COVID-19 vaccine. Photo: PHAN CHUNG

Da Nang People's Committee Vice Chairman Ngo Thi Kim Yen is asking leaders and teaching staff at the city’s schools to lead by example by showing willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Special attention should be paid to launching COVID-19 education campaign among parents and guardians of school pupils in a highly flexible and adaptable manner. Importance should be attached to taking all necessary measures to ensure the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign for school pupils is implemented in a safe and effective manner.

Reporting by PHAN CHUNG – Translating by H.L