Vaccine is key to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo: Reuters)

Although many infectious diseases, including polio, meningitis, and chickenpox, have been controlled or eliminated by vaccines, many people remain hesitant about – or adamantly opposed to – being vaccinated due to doubts about its safety and possible side effects.

According to Dr. Nguyen Nhat Linh of the World Health Organization's Global Tuberculosis Program, all currently licensed COVID-19 vaccines have undergone a strict evaluation process to prove their safety and efficacy.

“COVID-19 vaccines have proven effective against most of the new variants, including the Delta variant. Although less effective against the Delta variant, the vaccines’ protection against severe illness and death is still good,” said Linh.

He added, “There are vaccine side effects, but the incidence is small. In particular, anaphylactic shock is rare. Vaccines play an important role in protecting families and communities. Vaccination is not just for yourself, but for your entire community.”

Vietnam successfully contained the first three pandemic waves, thanks to its tracing and quarantine campaign.

Although the current fourth wave has been more serious, Associate Professor Doctor Do Van Dung, Head of the Public Health Faculty of HCM city Medicine and Pharmacy University, said Vietnam’s disease prevention measures, plus the application of technology and vaccines, is having an effect.

“Vietnam is working hard to find vaccines. We have joined the COVAX initiative to gain access to as many vaccines as possible. Vietnam’s clear vaccination strategy gives priority to frontline workers and individuals at high risk. At each stage, those who are eligible and the type of vaccines available have been widely publicized. The Vietnamese government has performed this task well,” said Dung.

The “Our World in Data” project at Oxford University reported that more than 4 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered globally.