Da Nang People's Committee Vice Chairwoman Ngo Thi Kim Yen on Tuesday urged the health sector, relevant units and authorities at local level to accelerate COVID-19 vaccine deployment in order to meet the city’s COVID-19 vaccination targets.

The heed should be paid to encouraging all eligible people who are working at local tourist facilities to get their second COVID-19 booster doses against infection, hospitalisation, and death, thereby partly contributing to helping the city meet its fourth dose coverage target of 80% in October 2022. Importance should be attached to rolling out the city’s COVID-19 vaccination programme for staff at driver training schools, coach station, and transport and driving businesses, trade centers, supermarkets, wet markets, and essential services.

Mrs Yen highlighted huge efforts authorities at local level and relevant units have made great efforts in accelerating the city’s COVID-19 vaccination campaigns to reach the targeted population.

However, she called for greater efforts to improve public acceptance and decrease vaccine hesitancy in confronting the disease in an attempt to encourage local residents to show their willingness to get their shots.

The health sector was urged to closely work with 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 in line with the direction from the municipal government and make sure that the city’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout plans are kept on track.

Da Nang has been very successful-reaching the target population of those above 12 years against COVID-19.  In addition, the city has already built a strong immunization system-vaccinating children and adults in a safe and efficient manner.

The rate of first booster coverage among people aged 18 and over in Da Nang stands at 78.29%, and for adolescense aged from 12-17 is 39.73% while the rate of second booster coverage among adults aged ≥18 is 55.21%. Meanwhile, rates of first- and second- dose coverage among children aged 5 to 11 in the city stand at 67.35% and 31.26%, respectively.

Reporting by PHAN CHUNG – Translating by H.L