More than 500 employees from the Juki Vietnam Company Limited receive COVID-19 vaccine booster shots at the Tân Thuận Export Processing Zone in District 7. —VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Vũ

HCM CITY — The HCM City Health Department has launched a month-long COVID-19 vaccine campaign.

The campaign aims to encourage booster shots (third and fourth doses) for people over 50 years old, those over 18 who are moderately or severely immune compromised, front line health workers, and workers at industrial parks and export processing zones.

Nguyễn Anh Dũng, the department’s deputy director, emphasised the importance of getting booster shots, stressing that it would help to maintain immunity against COVID-19.

He also called on people to follow the Ministry of Health’s V2K message for COVID-19 prevention and control.

The V2K recommendation – which stands for vaccines, khẩu trang (facemask) and khử khuẩn (disinfection) – has been put forward by the ministry to replace the 5K recommendation, which included keeping a safe distance, avoiding crowds and getting a health declaration.

Dũng said although the pandemic had been controlled, the risk of catching COVID-19 was still there.

The vaccination campaign along with prevention and control measures are keys to reduce the risks of infections, he added.

The department asked authorities of 21 districts and Thủ Đức City to open temporary vaccination spots to serve people during the campaign.

People can also get COVID-19 at schools, industrial parks, export processing zones, and primary medical stations.

Those who are unable to travel will be vaccinated at home. — VNS