Improving testing capacity for Covid-19 According to the explanation of Minister Nguyen Thanh Long, this outbreak in Ho Chi Minh City is different from previous times when it was not possible to completely trace all sources of infection. The cause is the appearance of clusters of cases, pathogens can spread and spread quickly, thereby causing potential case misses. Besides, the epidemic in the city has a very fast rate of transmission. When a case is recorded, many people in the family, production line or company have also been infected. Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long held a meeting with the Ho Chi Minh City Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control on the afternoon of June 19. Photo: Khoi Nguyen. Regarding the orientation in the coming time, the Minister of Health emphasized that improving testing capacity is one of the strategic solutions so that Ho Chi Minh City can quickly control and prevent the disease. Accordingly, Ho Chi Minh City needs to quickly improve testing capacity with a capacity of 500,000 aggregate samples per day, this scenario has been proposed before but needs to be implemented immediately to quickly stop the source of infection. Testing should be carried out in different forms, with key areas, to ensure that all relevant people are tested without omission and repeated testing after 5-7 days. With cases detected through screening, testing or hospital examination, the health sector needs to immediately localize and test the entire area, at the same time implement tracing measures and take samples for testing. In relevant cases, it is possible to apply sample 5 with F1, 10-20 with other cases. For industrial zones, the Minister said that Ho Chi Minh City needs regular screening tests to protect this area against the risk of disease invasion. At the same time, Ho Chi Minh City needs to have a large-scale screening test for the whole city in the form of 1-2 people per household. Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long. Photo: Duy Hieu. The Minister emphasized the need to quickly test for antigens, not to leave samples; Strengthening human resources to take samples and perform tests, and at the same time can consider and guide people to take samples for quick testing at home. Medical facilities need to test all patients who come for medical examination and treatment, not only focusing on groups of patients with clinical manifestations such as cough, fever, etc. Minister Nguyen Thanh Long said that the agencies under the Ministry located in the area will be mobilized to support the health sector in Ho Chi Minh City. In which, the University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Ho Chi Minh City mobilizes all students to participate in sampling, the Pasteur Institute of Ho Chi Minh City and other departments will provide maximum support with the coordination of HCMC. Preparing the plan that Ho Chi Minh City has 5,000 cases Minister Nguyen Thanh Long said that Ho Chi Minh City has distanced the whole city according to Directive 15, but the implementation still has many shortcomings. Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases, a large-scale Covid-19 treatment center in Ho Chi Minh City, is temporarily blocked. Photo: Chi Hung. The Minister recommended that the distance in Ho Chi Minh City should be implemented in different levels, depending on the characteristics of each area, should not rigidly apply Directive 16 throughout the city. Regarding treatment, Ho Chi Minh City needs to be ready for the scenario of 5,000 cases, plan to coordinate the army forces in the area to establish a field hospital; assigned Cho Ray Hospital to be ready for the scenario of setting up an emergency room to receive treatment for serious patients, especially cases requiring intensive intervention such as ECMO. For this scenario, the health sector in Ho Chi Minh City needs to review and prepare medical facilities, equipment and supplies. The Ministry of Health will provide some necessary equipment such as HFLC equipment, ventilators, ECMO to meet the treatment needs of serious patients. With the work of vaccination against Covid-19 vaccine, the Minister suggested that the city health sector should mobilize all efforts to implement the vaccination campaign according to the plan and schedule.

Volunteers injecting experimental vaccine Covivac. Photo: General Writing Domestic vaccines can reach 20-30 million doses/year According to the Ministry of Health, so far, the country has two manufacturers researching and developing vaccines against Covid-19.
The Nanocovax vaccine of the Nanogen Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Joint Stock Company has been approved for a phase 3 clinical trial (TNLS). In the past few days, the Military Medical Academy has administered experimental injections to volunteers aged 18.
According to the research outline, phase 3 will test on about 13,000 volunteers in many provinces and cities such as Hanoi, Hung Yen, Long An, Tien Giang, etc. In the North, the Military Medical Academy will act as the focal point for deployment. at Military Medical Hospital 103 and Hung Yen province’s preventive health center deployed locally. The southern area will be professionally handled by the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City, in collaboration with the preventive health centers of Long An and Tien Giang provinces.
At the Military Medical Academy, there are currently more than 6,000 volunteers registered to participate in the trial, of which more than 600 people have been screened and are eligible to participate. In the immediate future, in the first phase of the TNLS phase 3, the Military Medical Academy will test 1,000 people. According to the Military Medical Academy, before that, in stages 1 and 2 of the Nano Covax vaccine trial, 100% of people who injected immunity were protected against the attack of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
In the phase 3 trial, the Nano Covax vaccine was administered to volunteers from 18 years of age, and there was no maximum age limit for the trial participants. Currently, the oldest person to register for TNLS injection phase 3 is 83 years old. Nano Covax vaccine will also be administered to volunteers with chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes (stable disease, do not inject during acute phase) to evaluate the results of immunogenicity. fluid, post-injection reaction… The results of the phase 3 clinical trial are the basis for the Ministry of Health to grant emergency permits and widely inject people to prevent the Covid-19 epidemic, which is expected in the fourth quarter of this year. Earlier, during a working visit to the Military Medical Academy, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue asked the Military Medical Academy to continue to closely coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to urgently accelerate the implementation of clinical trials. Preparing phase 3 of Nanocovax vaccine, striving for early results to have a preventive vaccine for the community. However, when manufacturing, vaccines must ensure superiority in antibody generation time, with the shortest number of days; minimize side effects to a minimum, especially for people with weak health and underlying diseases; at the same time, must be able to resist and destroy future mutations. In addition, the COVIVAC vaccine of the Nha Trang Institute of Vaccines and Biologicals, is currently in the first phase of the TNLS and is about to be transferred to the second phase of research in Thai Binh.
According to the Ministry of Health, the COVIVAC vaccine is expected to produce about 6 million doses per year and can increase capacity when invested. Meanwhile, with the Nanocovax vaccine, which is expected to produce about 20-30 million doses per year, Nanogen Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Joint Stock Company can increase its capacity when invested.
A vaccine is coming soon that only requires one dose
Information from the Department of Science and Technology (Ministry of Health), a Vietnamese enterprise has discussed and negotiated with the US manufacturer on conditions for transferring technology to produce Covid-19 vaccine from mRNA essence. It is known that this vaccine only needs to be injected with a single dose of 5 mg, has high protection (based on the results of TNLS phase 1, 2), has a storage temperature of 20 – 80 degrees Celsius, currently the vaccine has been tested. end of trial phase 1, 2).
The first factory following the manufacturer’s technology standards will increase the capacity of 100-200 million doses/year, and is expected to start production from the end of 2021 or the first quarter of 2022. In addition, the No. 1 Vaccine and Biological Products Company Limited (VABIOTECH) is also negotiating with a Japanese partner to receive the transfer of vaccine production technology to Vietnam. In addition, VABIOTECH signed an agreement with the Direct Investment Fund of the Russian Federation on the closure of Sputnik-V Covid-19 vaccine tubes from semi-finished products with a scale of 5 million doses/month starting from July 2021. , towards transferring production technology with the scale of 100 million doses/year.
According to Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long, vaccines are an important weapon to bring life back to normal. Therefore, the Politburo has a policy on import, research, production and technology transfer for vaccines. Along with creating maximum conditions and quickly solving procedures for businesses and localities to import vaccines, Vietnam also promotes research and domestic production of vaccines. Vietnam is one of the first four countries in the world to isolate the SARS-CoV-2 virus, paving the way for research and production of vaccines, and many positive prospects for people to soon receive domestic vaccines. In addition, the Ministry of Health has worked with many foreign partners, negotiated to buy vaccine copyrights, transfer technology so that Vietnam can get the vaccine as soon as possible and be independent in the source of vaccines used in the country.
Recently, the Ministry of Health has negotiated with Johnson & Johnson Corporation with the hope that this unit will transfer technology to set up a vaccine factory in Vietnam. According to Minister Nguyen Thanh Long, many large corporations in Vietnam want to participate in the global vaccine supply chain. Vietnam is also one of more than 40 countries that can produce vaccines for the vaccination needs of the people, so the vaccine production experience of Vietnamese factories is guaranteed. Vietnam’s national vaccine management system (NRA) has also been certified as meeting standards by the World Health Organization (WHO). Johnson & Johnson’s side commits that after working with the Ministry of Health, it will make efforts to implement solutions to speed up the supply process through the COVAX mechanism, so that Vietnam can have Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine as soon as possible. However, Minister Nguyen Thanh Long also said that, to ensure vaccine security, one of the very important issues is to ensure a sustainable financial source for vaccines. Therefore, the Minister wishes that the community, authorities and businesses continue to support the Vaccine Fund. Vietnam has self-produced many vaccines and put them into the expanded vaccination program, contributing to the eradication and repelling of many dangerous diseases. This is the premise for the successful production of a Covid-19 vaccine. In fact, the research and production of vaccines against Covid-19 faces many difficulties and challenges, but this is the inevitable path we must go if we want to actively supply vaccines to serve the people. Over the past time, the Ministry of Health and State management agencies have created all conditions for administrative procedures for units to conduct vaccine production in the most favorable way. We can fully expect a “made in Vietnam” vaccine because at the moment, everything is going well.

Senior Advisor of the Center for Emergency Response to Public Health Events, Assoc. Tran Dac Phu The success of a vaccine depends not only on the manufacturer, researcher, and manager, but also on the social community. Therefore, we call for the cooperation of society, all people with the health sector to have a clinical trial research program, first of all, to be safe and effective to have a product soon. vaccines produced by Vietnam for the community.

Deputy Director of the Department of Science, Technology and Investment (Ministry of Health), Dr. Nguyen Ngo Quang

Also according to Prof. Dr. Le Thi Quynh Mai, B.1.617.2 data on GISAID currently has not recorded the loss of Y144 mutation, so this mutation needs to be further monitored and studied. GISAID is an updated map of SARS-CoV-2 gene sequencing results, which is continuously updated by scientists around the globe. This map was consulted by scientists in different countries, closely following the evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Earlier, at the National Online Conference on the situation and urgent solutions to prevent and control the Covid-19 epidemic taking place on the morning of May 29, Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long informed: The strain is currently common in Vietnam. Nam is an Indian strain that has shown signs of increased infectivity and more severe disease compared to previous outbreaks. Step 1: Visit https://www.bluezone.gov.vn or download directly at App Store or CH Play. Step 2: Once downloaded, the application will ask for permission to use Bluetooth to record contact with other Bluezone installed users. If Bluetooth is not open, drag the status bar and turn on Bluetooth; or go to Settings, select Bluetooth and turn it on. Step 3: Once the installation is done, click Scan Around. If someone near you less than 2m has used Bluezone, the application will automatically identify these users and put them in the contact list.

These are individuals participating in groups, groups and units, including: Special Working Group of the Ministry of Health; working groups to support Covid-19 epidemic prevention and control from universities: Hanoi Medicine, Public Health, Hai Duong Medical Technology; Pasteur Institute Nha Trang, National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Bach Mai Hospital, Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Thai Nguyen Central Hospital. Notably, there are more than 300 students who are the pioneers involved in sampling, tracing and testing. During the Covid-19 epidemic that broke out in our country from the end of April 2021, many units, provinces and cities have sent officials, experts, nurses, doctors, technicians and medical staff.. support epidemic prevention and control in hot spots, including Bac Ninh and Bac Giang. The commendation of the Ministry of Health is a timely recognition of contributions, in order to encourage morale, arouse the enthusiasm of the medical force on the front lines, improve determination, action, efforts, and strength. Moreover, together with the whole country to soon fight the epidemic. Step 1: Visit https://www.bluezone.gov.vn or download directly at App Store or CH Play. Step 2: Once downloaded, the application will ask for permission to use Bluetooth to record contact with other Bluezone installed users. If Bluetooth is not open, drag the status bar and turn on Bluetooth; or go to Settings, select Bluetooth and turn it on. Step 3: Once the installation is done, click Scan Around. If someone near you less than 2m has used Bluezone, the application will automatically identify these users and put them in the contact list.

From the beginning of the fourth epidemic until now, the Department of Science, Technology and Training (Ministry of Health) has also directed health human resource training institutions nationwide to prepare and be ready to mobilize staff and lecturers. , students and students volunteered to participate in the prevention and control of Covid-19 epidemic. On May 27, the Ministry of Health mobilized staff, lecturers, trainees and students to volunteer to support the provinces of Bac Giang and Bac Ninh with the number of volunteers supporting 375 people. In which, Hanoi Medical University has 120 people, Thai Nguyen University of Medicine and Pharmacy has 104 people, Vietnam Academy of Traditional Medicine has 36 people, Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy has 65 people, University Nursing Nam Dinh has 50 people. The delegations were present in Bac Giang province today. Particularly, the delegation of Nam Dinh University of Nursing will be present tomorrow (May 28). Currently, 1,976 officials and students from 15 universities and colleges of medicine and pharmacy are participating in epidemic prevention and control activities in 13 provinces and cities: Bac Ninh, Bac Giang, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh City. Minh, Hai Phong, Nam Dinh, Thai Binh, Can Tho, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Binh Dinh, Thua Thien – Hue, Dien Bien, K Hospital and assist the Department of Preventive Medicine (Ministry of Health) in implementing Currently monitoring, evaluating and reporting epidemic developments by provinces. As of 12 p.m. on May 27, 34 training institutions have informed the Department of Science, Technology and Training (Ministry of Health) the number of officials, lecturers, students and students who are willing to participate in supporting the department. , against the Covid-19 epidemic when mobilized was 23,888 people. Step 1: Visit https://www.bluezone.gov.vn or download directly at App Store or CH Play. Step 2: Once downloaded, the application will ask for permission to use Bluetooth to record contact with other Bluezone installed users. If Bluetooth is not open, drag the status bar and turn on Bluetooth; or go to Settings, select Bluetooth and turn it on. Step 3: Once the installation is done, click Scan Around. If someone near you less than 2m has used Bluezone, the application will automatically identify these users and put them in the contact list.

Previously, on February 24, more than 117,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine were first produced by the British AstraZeneca Company, and imported by the Vietnam Vaccine Joint Stock Company (VNVC) under the permission of the Ministry of Health. present in Vietnam. Next, on April 1, 811,200, the first Covid-19 vaccine dose of the Covax Facility program through UNICEF arrived in Vietnam. By the end of May 12, the whole country had 62 provinces and cities completed the vaccination of Covid-19 with 942,030 injections of Covid-19 vaccine of AstraZeneca for people who are health workers. are directly treating Covid-19 patients, medical staff perform tasks such as sampling, testing, tracing, members of Covid-19 community groups, steering committee for epidemic prevention all levels, police forces, the army according to the Resolution 21 / NQ-CP of the Government dated February 26, 2021. Step 1: Access to https://www.bluezone.gov.vn or directly download at App Store or Play Store. Step 2: Once downloaded, the app will ask for Bluetooth permission to record contact with other Bluezone installed users. If Bluetooth isn’t open, drag the status notification bar and turn on Bluetooth; Or go to Settings, select Bluetooth and turn it on. Step 3: After the installation is complete, click Scan Around. If someone near you less than 2m has used Bluezone, the application will automatically identify these users and put them on the contact list.

The Minister of Health directed at the online conference on strengthening COVID-19 epidemic prevention – Photo: VGP / Hien Minh

At the online conference to strengthen prevention of the COVID-19 epidemic held on April 16, Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long said that this Immunization Safety Steering Committee is responsible for setting the safety of vaccinations. to the top, always ready and confident in handling cases with post-injection reactions with the view of “where the injection is safe to get there”.

Also according to the Minister, during the first injection of AstraZeneca vaccine in 19 provinces and cities across the country, the surveillance system of the National Expanded Immunization Program recorded nearly 33% of vaccinated people having mild reactions. usually after injection and go away on its own after 1-2 days without the need for treatment or medical attention; About 1 (one thousandth) of cases of hypersensitivity reactions after injection have been properly managed, their health has stabilized, returned to work after 1-2 days of follow-up. treatment at a medical facility. In particular, to date, Vietnam has not recorded any cases of blood clots occurring after vaccination.

“The rate of 33% of people injected with normal mild reactions after injection and going away after 1-2 days is an acceptable number. With many of the current vaccines and the 5-in-1 vaccines being deployed in the expanded vaccination program, this rate could reach 50%. These are the very common reactions after vaccination, ”said Minister Nguyen Thanh Long.

With more than 811,000 doses of vaccine supported by COVAX, which just arrived in Vietnam on April 1, the Minister of Health asked localities to quickly and safely deploy injections, before May 15 to complete more than 811,000 doses. this. In particular, no dose of vaccine can be canceled due to not deploying the injection.

Meeting points online Conference – Photo: VGP / Hien Minh

At present, the epidemic situation in the world and neighboring countries with our country is still complicated, so the Minister emphasized that the control of COVID-19 epidemic in 2021 is still a challenge and difficulty. countries, including Vietnam, need to work to deal with it. Therefore, localities and people are not subjective, indifferent, always actively implement drastic measures to prevent epidemics.

The Minister also said that at present, the most “hot” region is the southwest border and the southwestern provinces. Therefore, the Ministry of Health suggested that these localities direct the maintenance of the border area by preventing illegal entry, making an important contribution to the fight against epidemics in the coming time. It will be difficult to control epidemics in the community.

Localities also need to proactively strengthen regular screening of places with a large concentration of people to detect cases, because the earlier we are screened, the more proactive we are in fighting the epidemic. This is a lesson from Cambodia, Thailand …, the Minister suggested.