(Source: Ministry of Health)

Group A includes highly dangerous infectious diseases that can spread rapidly and widely and have a high mortality rate, or for which the cause of the disease is not yet known. Group B includes dangerous infectious diseases that are rapidly transmittable and fatal.

Success in fighting COVID-19 is attributable to public consensus

According to the Ministry of Health, in the first 5 months of this year Vietnam recorded about 85,000 COVID-19 cases. On average there were 17,000 cases per month, down from 144,000 cases per month in 2021, when Vietnam was severely hit by the pandemic. There have been 20 deaths this year due to COVID-19, a mortality rate of 0.02%. All 20 cases involved severe underlying diseases reported previously or were individuals who had not been vaccinated. The rate of hospitalization for COVID-19 patients is lower than the rate for dengue fever or foot-and-mouth disease.

The COVID-19 pandemic seriously affected the world over the past three years. It was the first time Vietnam had deployed disease prevention and control on a national scale for a disease in Group A. Vietnam has eventually succeeded in controlling the COVID-19.. By the end of last year Vietnam had spent nearly 9.8 billion USD to fight the pandemic and implement social protection policies.

Millions of volunteers, medical workers, and members of the armed forces were mobilized to the frontline to combat the disease. The public, businesses, and foreign governments and organizations joined the effort, providing cash and other support.

Nguyen Anh Tri, a National Assembly deputy representing Hanoi, said: "Vietnam is one of the most successful countries in containing the pandemic. Vietnam implemented its vaccine policy rapidly and effectively. The National Assembly praised public solidarity and the contributions of individuals and organizations to fight COVID-19.”

Vietnam's achievements against COVID-19 were highly praised by the international community. Angela Pratt, Chief Representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Vietnam, said the country’s deployment of vaccination was extremely impressive.. It was one of the great success stories of an effective response to the pandemic. Representative of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Vietnam, Ms. Rana Flowers, said Vietnam has made great efforts in mobilizing the participation and support of the entire political system and people for the fight against COVID-19. She praised the Government's safe and effective distribution of vaccines and its vaccine strategy.

Staying vigilant

Vietnam remains vigilant and prepared for possible future pandemics. It will issue guidelines on COVID-19 prevention and control measures suitable for group B epidemics and WHO recommendations to develop a plan for sustainable control and management of COVID-19 in the 2023-2025 period.

Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan said: On May 5, 2023, the World Health Organization declared that the COVID-19 epidemic was no longer a public health emergency of global concern. The Ministry of Health is coordinating with other ministries and agencies to consult the experiences of countries around the world and review regulations, and measures onCOVID-19  prevention and control."

With strong efforts by both the political system and entire population over the past 3 years, Vietnam has successfully controlled COVID-19, shifting the disease from highly dangerous to dangerous. This achievement is the victory of the entire Vietnamese people.