Policy response, social media and science journalism for the sustainability of the public health system amid the COVID-19 outbreak: The vietnam lessons

Viet Phuong La, Thanh-Hang Pham, Ho Toan, Hoang Nguyen, Khanh Linh K.L.P. Nguyen, Thu Trang Vuong, Hong Kong Nguyen (), Trung Tran, Quy Khuc (), Tung Ho and Quan-Hoang Vuong
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Quan-Hoang Vuong

ULB Institutional Repository from ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles

Abstract: Having geographical proximity and a high volume of trade with China, the first country to record an outbreak of the new Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Vietnam was expected to have a high risk of transmission. However, as of 4 April 2020, in comparison to attempts to containing the disease around the world, responses from Vietnam are seen as prompt and effective in protecting the interests of its citizens, with 239 confirmed cases and no fatalities. This study analyzes the situation in terms of Vietnam's policy response, social media and science journalism. A self-made web crawl engine was used to scan and collect official media news related to COVID-19 between the beginning of January and April 4, yielding a comprehensive dataset of 14,952 news items. The findings shed light on how Vietnam-despite being under-resourced-has demonstrated political readiness to combat the emerging pandemic since the earliest days. Timely communication on any developments of the outbreak from the government and the media, combined with up-to-date research on the new virus by the Vietnamese science community, have altogether provided reliable sources of information. By emphasizing the need for immediate and genuine cooperation between government, civil society and private individuals, the case study offers valuable lessons for other nations concerning not only the concurrent fight against the COVID-19 pandemic but also the overall responses to a public health crisis.

Keywords: Coronavirus; COVID-19; Pandemic; Policy response; Public health system; SARS-CoV-2; Science journalism; Social media; Vietnam (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020-04
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Published in: Sustainability (2020) v.12 n° 7

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Related works:
Journal Article: Policy Response, Social Media and Science Journalism for the Sustainability of the Public Health System Amid the COVID-19 Outbreak: The Vietnam Lessons (2020)
Working Paper: Policy response, social media and science journalism for the sustainability of the public health system amid the COVID-19 outbreak: The Vietnam lessons (2020)
Working Paper: Policy response, social media and science journalism for the sustainability of the public health system amid the COVID-19 outbreak: The Vietnam lessons (2020)
Working Paper: Policy response, social media and science journalism for the sustainability of the public health system amid COVID-19 outbreak: The Vietnam lessons (2020)
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