Regular tests not needed for newborns with COVID-19
According to new guidance from the Ministry of Health, it is not necessary to regularly test newborns who are infected with COVID-19, even if their caregivers have the virus.
A medical worker examines a baby infected with COVID-19. (Photo: laichau.gov.vn)
Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - According to new guidance from the Ministry of Health,it is not necessary to regularly test newborns who are infected with COVID-19,even if their caregivers have the virus.
Infantswith COVID-19 can take home treatment if they are asymptomatic or have mildclinical symptoms and no serious symptoms.
Theministry’s guidance points out specific serious signals in the newborn such asbreastfeeding less, dozing off and finding it hard to wake up, signs ofrespiratory failure, groaning, wheezing, rising and falling nostrils, andapnea lasting more than 20 seconds.
Otherdanger signs are convulsions or spasticity; unusual movements; bodytemperature above 38 degrees Celsius, which does not improve after 48 hours;hypothermia below 36 degrees; red or pus-filled eyes, red or swollen bellybutton; signs of dehydration; and jaundice before three days of age, especiallywithin 24 hours of birth.
Continuousvomiting, abdominal distension, diarrhea, bloody stools are also serious signalsfor the babies’ digestive health.
Ifboth mother and infant are confirmed to have COVID-19, breastfeeding should bemaintained.
Ifthe baby has a stuffy nose, which causes difficulty when suckling, the baby'snose should be cleaned before feeding. If the baby is unable to suckle, use aspoon to feed breast milk to the baby.
Ifonly the mother is confirmed to have COVID-19, mothers and families should becounselled about breastfeeding and the risks.
Pregnantwomen who are treated at home also need to monitor their health status such asmeasuring their body temperature at least twice a day. They should countbreathing rate, pulse, SpO2 and blood pressure (if possible) daily.
Theymust also pay attention to fetal movements.
Oncefinding abnormal obstetric signs, they should immediately notify medical staffor visit a medical facility. It is also necessary to maintain regular antenatalcheck-ups.
Antenatalcheck-up is recommended at any time if abnormal signs are detected or whenindicated by medical staff.
Ifa pregnant woman with COVID-19 has antenatal care appointment and has noabnormal signs of obstetrics, a remote antenatal check-up can be performed orthe pregnant woman can wait until the end of isolation.
Pregnantwomen also need to follow a healthy diet, do exercises, supplement withmicronutrients, not take tobacco and be exposed to secondhand smoke, not usealcohol, beer and other stimulants or narcotics./.
Ninety-five percent of Vietnamese infants have completed full vaccination programmes during the 2016-2020 period, under an expanded national vaccination programme, according to Director of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology Dang Duc Anh.
The Ministry of Health has issued new guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 in children, especially children under 12 months who are at high risk of severe disease.
Vietnam’s health authorities announced they have expanded the emergency use authorisation for Moderna COVID-19 vaccine (Spikevax) to include children from 6 to under 12 years old.
A group of young volunteers in northern Bac Ninh province has been supporting self-treating patients as the number of COVID-19 cases keeps increasing, causing significant pressure on the local health system.
Vietnam now boasts a nationwide healthcare network with 1,665 hospitals, 384 of which are non-public, supported by local commune- and ward-level stations. At the end of 2024, hospital bed capacity reached 34 per 10,000 people, slightly above the global average.
The 56-year-old patient from Quang Tri province was discharged in stable condition as he no longer experienced shortness of breath and was able to walk, move around, and eat normally.
Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Vu Trung, Director of the Pasteur Institute, said that under the MoU, the two sides committed to promoting diverse and practical collaborative activities, including joint conferences and workshops, exchanges of scholars, researchers and students, sharing academic materials, and the development of specific programmes and projects in scientific research, training, and epidemic prevention.
TytoCare, a leading Israeli telemedicine company based in Netanya, is willing to work with Vietnamese regulators, insurers, and healthcare providers to develop a sustainable digital health ecosystem.
The partnership is under the framework of a Memorandum of Understanding on the development and implementation of the National Action Plan on Breast Cancer and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Control, signed in Hanoi on July 22.
An estimated 7 million Vietnamese are currently living with diabetes, but about 50% remain undiagnosed, a dangerous gap that is fuelling serious, preventable complications and increasing the burden on the healthcare system.
In 2024, Vietnam achieved 99% coverage for the first dose of the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine, up from 80% in 2023. Immunisation coverage in the country has not only rebounded to the high levels seen before the COVID-19 pandemic but has now surpassed the rates recorded in 2019.
Health authorities in HCM City have issued an urgent alert after six people died from dengue fever, amid a spike in infections driven by the onset of the rainy season.
During the peak months of July and August 2025, the National Institute of Haematology and Blood Transfusion (NIHBT) needs at least 90,000 units of blood to supply 180 hospitals in the northern region. However, despite continuous efforts, the reserve blood is still short of 30,000 units.
The Hanoi ceremony highlighted efforts to ensure all citizens, especially women and youth, can access accurate information and healthcare services to make informed reproductive choices.
After such a long time, the law has revealed many limitations, prompting the Ministry of Health (MoH) to gather opinions to amend the law to give more chances to thousands of patients every year.
Currently, cardiovascular specialists from the 108 Military Central Hospital are working alongside a team of Prof.Dr. Jan D. Schmitto, Deputy Director of MHH’s Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery on clinical trials for MCS devices, implanted in heart failure patients either as a bridge to transplantation or as permanent treatment.
The centre not only serves residents living on the island, but also receives tens of thousands of visitors every year, according to Assoc Prof Dr Tang Chi Thuong, Director of the HCM CIty Department of Health.
Not only does Vietnam attract international tourists with its landscapes, culture, and cuisine, but it is also gradually becoming a reliable destination for medical treatment, offering high-quality services at reasonable costs.
Over the past six months, 150 communal health stations in provinces including Ha Giang, Bac Kan, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Lai Chau, Yen Bai, Tay Ninh, Hau Giang, Ben Tre and Ca Mau have been equipped with information technology systems. In addition, 117 key provincial healthcare workers have received training, with thousands more expected to follow.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the Ministry of Health swiftly launched a telemedicine programme, connecting more than 1,000 medical establishments nationwide. The model, which remains in operation, has benefited tens of thousands of patients, including foreign nationals.
After more than three weeks of intensive treatment, the patient's pneumonia improved, breathing stabilised, sedation was reduced, and the breathing tube was removed. He is now conscious, able to eat orally, and in recovery.
A medical worker examines a baby infected with COVID-19. (Photo: laichau.gov.vn) 
