Hanoi ward requires Covid vaccine refusers to 'take responsibility for infections'

The People's Committee of Hoang Liet Ward in Hoang Mai District on Tuesday requested adults (18 or above) in the area, who refuse Covid-19 vaccination, to state their reasons and sign the aforementioned documents.

Ta Van Hai, deputy chairman of the Committee, said the ward did so to "figure out why people won't get vaccinated."

"If we have no information, how could we know if someone refuses vaccination due to health reasons or some other causes. Signing such documents also helps raise people's awareness that anyone who spreads the disease must take responsibility before the law," he added.

Hoang Liet is among the most populated wards in the capital with over 80,000 residents. Hai said there have been many people who refused vaccination, but did not provide concrete vaccination data.

Duong Thi Hong, deputy head of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, said Covid-19 vaccination is one's right and responsibility to the community, when asked about her views on the matter.

"Fully vaccinated people would reduce infection risks, and even if they get infected, it would be unlikely to worsen or result in death. So people shouldn't miss the opportunity to protect themselves," she said.

Hanoi has recorded 4,088 local Covid-19 cases since the fourth coronavirus wave hit Vietnam in late April. Several past cases were contained within quarantine zones and locked down areas.

The capital, home to nine million people, had aimed to vaccinated all its adult population with at least one Covid-19 vaccine shot by Wednesday. As of Thursday, it had vaccinated around 5.5 million people, or around 95 percent of its initial goal.