Hanoi (VNA) – Efforts to control COVID-19 pandemic over thඣe last year has proved strength of the whole nation in preventing and controlling the diseaဣse.

Over a year of fighting COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam has been praised by the World Health Organization and international community as one of a few countries which has the most effective epidemic prevention and control measures in the world even though investment in health is still limited.

Strength of a great unity

When the pandemic started, Vietnam is at risk of becoming a "hot spot" of COVID-19 when it is close to China. However, the country has implemented effective measures as well as taking proactive response measures at a higher level than WHO’s warnings. Efforts in pandemic fight over the past year are the manifestation of the overall strength of the entire nation, all forces’ determination. That’s is the determination to fight the pandemic with the spirit and strength of Vietnames cultural traditions.  

After implementing effective measures, Vietnam initially had positive results in epidemic prevention in the first wave of COVID-19 as the number of people infected and died by COVID-19 was relatively low compared to other countries in the world.

In addition, thanks to positive results of epidemic prevention and control works, Vietnam was among the few countries in the world that can still maintained economic and social activities with GDP growth in the context of a severe global economic downturn in 2020.

Borderless tolerance

Amidst the pandemic, the noble and humane acts of the Vietnamese people were shown, manifesting the spirit of solidarity, mutual love and tolerance without border. That’s the dedication of the medical team who didn’t mind days and nights treating severe cases regardless of their nationalities. Typically is the case of the Patient 91, a UK pilot, who underwent over 100 days of intensive treatment and retured home. The spirit of fighting against the COVID-19 epidemic does not stop only in the country, but from the Government, ministries, branches to organizations, individuals and businesses as all have paid close attention to support and share difficulties with Overseas Vietnamese abroad and health sector of other countries, especially countries which have been hardly hit by the pandemic  such as the US, Italy, Spain, China, France, Germany, Russia, India and neighboring countries such as Laos Cambodia, Myanmar, among others. Vietnam has presented thousands of tons of medical equipment including masks, gloves, medical protective gear, antiseptic solutions... to many countries and international friends worldwide.

Flights under motto “leaving no one behind”

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic was considered as a “tornado”, sweeping through more than 220 countries, regardless of rich or poor, big or small nations, without exception of any continent with tremendous speed.

Many countries closed their borders with a small number of flights being conduted. But on the S-shaped strip of land with a great human spirit, love and affection, Vietnam has left no one behind with several rescue flights to bring back its citizens from epidemic-hit areas such as Wuhan (China), the UK, the Republic of⛎ Korea, Japan, US, and Equatorial Guinea, among others.

Images of flights of the national flag carrier, Vietnam Airlines, flights carrying pilots, cabin crews and medical staff to fly to "epidemic epicenters" to bring Vietnamese citizens back home have become a pride the nation.

Achievements in vaccine production

Vietnam has made its mark as one of more than 40 countries in the world researching and conducting clinical trials of vaccines against COVID-19 on humans, including NANO COVAX and COVIVAC.

Several companies have invested in plants and are seeking vaccine production technologies both in and outside the country. At least one large-scale COVID-19 vaccine production plant is scheduled to be put in operation in late 2021 or early 2022.

The Ministry of Health will coordinate with ministries and sectors to s🌺ubmit to the Government a proposal on accessing all vaccine supply sources in the world towards the goal of achꦜieving herd immunity by the end of 2021, and create mechanisms to facilitate investors’ investment in the production of vaccines in the country to serve not only domestic use but also export.

Success in combating COVID-19 pandemic not only helps Vietnam ensures its community’s health protection and care but also effectively promotes the country's image to the world. The world is watching and observing the successful story of Vietnam and more foreign investors are heading to Vietnam, where the epidemic has been well controlled./.