Is the 4th dose of COVID-19 vaccine mandatory?

According to Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Lien Huong, based on current regulations and a number of reasons in the current period, the injection COVID-19 vaccine not enough basis is mandatory. Thus, the 3rd and 4th injections are not mandatory but are based on a voluntary spirit.

Specifically, according to the Law on Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases of 2007 stipulates that people at risk of contracting infectious diseases in epidemic-affected areas and traveling to epidemic-affected areas are required to use vaccines and medical biological products for vaccine-preventable diseases. preventive medical products.

Children and pregnant women must use compulsory vaccines and medical biological products for infectious diseases under the expanded immunization program. Parents or guardians of children and all citizens are responsible for complying with the requirements of competent medical facilities in the use of vaccines and medical biological products.

Although COVID-19 is a group A infectious disease, but has not been updated to the list of infectious diseases requiring vaccination. In addition, the World Health Organization (WHO) also recommends voluntary COVID-19 vaccination rather than mandatory. Currently, most countries around the world also require that vaccination against COVID-19 is voluntary.

“Based on the provisions of current law and the reasons mentioned above, currently there is not enough basis for vaccination against COVID-19 and especially for children aged 5-11 years old to determine that it is mandatory.” Ms. Huong said.

By the end of June 6, the whole country had injected 222,252,825 doses of vaccine against COVID-19. In which, the number of injections for people aged 18 years and over is 199,913,862 doses (Nose 1: 71,481,268 doses; Nose 2: 68,798,098 doses; Nose 3: 1,507,118 doses; Additional shots: 15,057,068 dose; 1st booster: 42,577,726 doses; 2nd booster: 492,584 doses.

Number of doses for children aged 12-17 years is 17,485,275 doses (1st dose: 8,943,040 doses; dose 2: 8,542,235 doses).

The number of doses for children from 5-11 years old is 4,853,688 doses (1st dose: 4,275,716 doses; 2nd dose: 577,972 doses).

On May 30, the Ministry of Health sent a telegram to request provinces and cities to organize the 4th dose vaccination for groups aged 50 years and older, for people aged 18 years and older with moderate to severe immunodeficiency. , people aged 18 and over are in the high-risk group of exposure to COVID-19 such as health workers, frontline officials, workers, and people working in industrial zones under the guidance of the Ministry of Health.

Currently, some localities have started planning to deploy the 4th dose vaccination for people, including Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Quang Ninh…