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

• DOI: 10.31235/osf.io/cfw8x
• Publication Date: 2020-03-18T04:03:57Z
• Authors: Viet-Phuong La; Thanh-Hang Pham; Manh-Toan Ho; Minh-Hoang Nguyen; Nguyen Phuc Khanh...; Thu-Trang Vuong; Hong-Kong T. Nguyen; Trung Tran; Khuc Van Quy; Tung Manh Ho; Quan-Hoang Vuong
• Keywords: SocArXiv|Social and Behavioral Sciences|Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration|Health Policy; Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration; Droit de l'environnement; Social and Behavioral Sciences; Science and Technology Studies; pandemic ; COVID-19 ; Vietnam ; science journalism ; policy response ; social media ; public health system ; coronavirus ; SARS-CoV-2; Social media; 0302 clinical medicine; Sociology; Medical Sociology; Medicine and Health Sciences; SocArXiv|Social and Behavioral Sciences|Science and Technology Studies; Géographie humaine; 10. No inequality; Health Policy; 05 social sciences; bepress|Social and Behavioral Sciences|Sociology|Medicine and Health; Public health system; 3. Good health; bepress|Social and Behavioral Sciences|Sociology; Vietnam; bepress|Social and Behavioral Sciences|Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration|Emergency and Disaster Management; Public Health; Medicine and Health; Emergency and Disaster Management; Public Policy; Sciences de l'ingénieur; SocArXiv|Social and Behavioral Sciences|Sociology; 03 medical and health sciences; Science journalism; 0502 economics and business; bepress|Social and Behavioral Sciences|Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration|Health Policy; SocArXiv|Social and Behavioral Sciences|Sociology|Medical Sociology; SocArXiv|Social and Behavioral Sciences|Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration|Emergency and Disaster Management; bepress|Social and Behavioral Sciences|Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration; bepress|Social and Behavioral Sciences|Science and Technology Studies; Policy response; Pandemic; coronavirus; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; pandemic; policy response; social media; science journalism; public health system; Vietnam; Economie de l'environnement et des ressources naturelles; SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; Coronavirus; SocArXiv|Social and Behavioral Sciences|Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration; bepress|Social and Behavioral Sciences; Science and Technology Policy; SocArXiv|Social and Behavioral Sciences; Medical Humanities

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.