The prime minister made the request at the government’s regular meeting on March 2.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the meeting
According to the government leader, to date, localities have basically controlled Covid-19, except for Kim Thanh District in the northern province of Hai Duong.
He noted that Covid-19 vaccines for people and applying Covid-19 prevention regulations were Vietnam's best measures in the fight against the virus. The Ministry of Health needed to quickly deploy the vaccination programme in line with newly-issued resolution. The work needs to be started this week.
Under the government’s resolution on the purchase and use of Covid-19 vaccines, Vietnam has planned to provide around 150 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine for local people free of charge this year. The vaccines are sourced through purchase, imports and aid.
The vaccines will be prioritised to medical workers; people in the anti-pandemic efforts (Covid-19 prevention and control steering committees of all levels, quarantine facility staff, reporters); diplomats, customs officers and people working entry and exit procedures; military personnel; public security forces; teachers; those aged above 65; essential workers (aviation, transport, tourism staff, utility workers, etc.); people with chronic health problems; people who want to study or work overseas; and people in virus-hit regions.