Hanoi (VNA) - WHO Regional Director forthe Western Pacific Takeshi Kasai on January 11 said the World Health Organisation backs visions andviewpoints in the COVID-19 prevention and control programme set out bythe Vietnamese Government to flexibly response to new variants.

The programme emphasises the role of vaccines andthe protection of the most vulnerable groups, including the elderly and thoseworking on the frontline of the pandemic combat, along with public awareness ofpreventive measures, Kasai told Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh during theirmeeting in Hanoi.

He lauded Vietnam’s adjustment of measures to matchthe latest developments of the Omicron variant, and achievements the countryhas recorded in the fight, especially in the vaccine matter.

Kasai used the occasion to thank Vietnam for itstimely support to other countries in the pandemic combat, and its contributionsto WHO and the COVAX Facility.

Also present at the meeting, WHO Representative inVietnam Dr Kidong Park said he supports Vietnam’s plan to improve the capacityof grassroots and preventive health care not only to drive back the COVID-19pandemic, but also to effectively deal with population aging in the future.

The representatives expressed their impression onVietnam’s performance in economic development and social welfare over the pasttime.

Both noted their belief that Vietnam will continueeffectively controlling, and safely and flexibly adapting to COVID-19, andbecome a model in health care in the region and the world.

For his part, Chinh affirmed that Vietnam attachesimportance to cooperation with WHO, and thanked the organisation and its WesternPacific Regional Office and Vietnam Office for their support to Vietnam in themedical sector, especially in accessing vaccines and medical supplies.

He briefed the WHO representatives on Vietnam’svaccine strategy that focuses on the vaccine diplomacy, vaccine fund and theacceleration of vaccination.

Thanks to the vaccine strategy, Vietnam has becomeone of the six countries worldwide with the highest vaccination coverage, andshifted its strategy to safely and flexibly adapting to, and effectively controlling thepandemic.

With efforts in socio-economic recovery anddevelopment, Vietnam’s economy grew more than 5 percent in the fourth quarterof last year, pushing the national gross domestic product (GDP) in the year to2.58 percent, even higher than that of 2020, he said.

Sharing Vietnam’s experience in pandemic preventionand control, the PM said Vietnam has seriously observed the WHO’srecommendations, offered aid to many countries, raised initiatives at regionaland international forums, and voluntarily contributed to the WHO COVID-19Solidarity Response Fund and the COVAX Facility.

He called on the WHO and Kasai to further theirsupport to Vietnam in terms of vaccines and drugs, particularly the research,production and procedures for the recognition of home-grown vaccines.

The Vietnamese Government is working on plans toreopen schools as soon as possible, he said, suggesting WHO give advice tothe country in vaccinating children aged from 5-11 years old./.