The Ministry of Health consults on 2 situations to cope with the Covid-19 epidemic in the two years 2022-2023

Previously, on April 29, the Ministry of Health sent an official dispatch to consult members of the National Steering Committee on Covid-19 prevention and control, the People’s Committees of 63 provinces/cities, and related units under and under this Ministry on plan to ensure medical work to cope with Covid-19 epidemic situations in 2022 – 2023.

Currently, the number of new cases per day in Vietnam only fluctuates between 3,000-4,000 cases per day with only 1-2 deaths, the lowest level since October 2021 – the time when no Omicron variant was recorded in our country. .

In the draft plan proposed by the Ministry of Health to consult, Covid-19 epidemic situations in the transition period from pandemic prevention to sustainable management, in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO). introduced recently.

Two specific situations

Two scenarios are given in the draft Alternative: The virus strain continues to evolve, but because the community has immunity, the number of severe cases and deaths gradually decreases. This leads to outbreaks that are no longer as severe as before or the emergence of new strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus but less severe.

Scenario 2 is that Vietnam will appear a new strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that is likely to reduce the effectiveness of the vaccine or immunity, causing an increase in cases of severe symptoms or deaths, especially in developing countries. vulnerable group.

In these two situations, the Ministry of Health emphasized that one of the four principles set forth is that vaccines are an effective measure in reducing the risk of severe disease and death; The high rate of vaccine coverage in all target groups, especially the vulnerable and high-risk groups, is the foundation for gradually easing health and other social measures.

In case 1, the Ministry of Health proposes a research plan to vaccinate the 4th dose for adults and the 3rd dose for children from 5 years old to under 18 years old; Immunize children from 3 to 5 years old to soon deploy vaccination for target groups right in 2022.

Regarding surveillance, Vietnam will study, evaluate and base on the epidemic situation to switch measures to prevent and control the COVID-19 epidemic from a group A infectious disease to a group B infectious disease.

Increased monitoring, testing and timely detection of strains of concern (VOC) and changes in pathogenicity, transmissibility and effectiveness of interventions.

Deploying gene sequencing monitoring at key monitoring points to detect virus evolution; The Ministry of Health also proposed a plan to expand surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in animals to include both domestic animals and wild animals.

Regarding social measures, scenario 1 of the Ministry of Health proposes to continue implementing measures to prevent epidemics as prescribed in Resolution 128 of the Government, but consider reducing or loosening regulations. conditions and instructions to create more favorable conditions for organizations, agencies, enterprises and individuals to implement.

At the same time, evaluate the implementation, adjust the indicators and thresholds to determine the level of the epidemic in accordance with the nature of the epidemic, respond to reality, and create conditions for socio-economic development activities.

Regarding logistics, in addition to continuing to mobilize and mobilize the participation and contributions of businesses, organizations and individuals; the voluntary payment of people with COVID-19 for examination and treatment upon request, the Ministry of Health also proposed to shorten and simplify payment documents; abolish the current barriers, overlaps, obstacles and inadequacies in the policy of payment of medical expenses for medical examination and treatment activities in the context of the COVID-19 epidemic.

Although posing two different situations, in terms of epidemic prevention and control solutions, scenario 2 will be deployed as in situation 1 and focus on basic activities.

In particular, scenario 2 will flexibly implement the principle of “prevention – detection – isolation – zoning – stamping out the epidemic” according to the narrowest possible scale and scope, in line with the epidemic’s development; flexibly apply the anti-epidemic formula “5K + vaccine, medicine + treatment + technology + people’s consciousness + other measures”.

Regarding social measures, situation 2 requires strict implementation of epidemic level assessment in localities to implement appropriate epidemic prevention and control measures as prescribed in Resolution No. 128 of the Government.

From pandemic prevention to sustainable management

After more than two years, the COVID-19 epidemic caused by new variants of SARS-CoV-2 continuously appeared, causing the process of spreading faster and the degree of infection more than the original strain.

Currently, the number of new cases globally has decreased continuously, the number of severe infections and deaths has also decreased, while the rate of vaccine coverage has increased. The Ministry of Health cited the assessment of the World Health Organization (WHO) that the COVID-19 epidemic will not disappear completely and may soon become an endemic disease.

Within ASEAN, a number of Southeast Asian countries have introduced criteria to consider Covid-19 as an endemic disease. Indonesia stipulates that to consider Covid-19 as an endemic disease, the bed occupancy rate must be less than 5% and the positive rate must be less than 1% of the population.

Thailand will consider Covid-19 as an endemic disease from July 1, 2022, provided that the mortality rate does not exceed 0.1% (currently this rate is close to 0.2%). Accordingly, Thailand will remove the requirement for testing, remove the mandatory requirement to wear masks, except for those who are infected.

On March 31, 2022, WHO issued the Prevention and Response Plan to end the state of emergency of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2022 with 3 specific situations.

The organization also encourages countries to make the transition from pandemic prevention to sustainable management.

Thanh Hien