Vietnam would get around five million Covid-19 vaccine doses by the end of this month, according to Deputy Health Minister Truong Quoc Cuong.
Of the figure, roughly 4.9 million vaccine doses would be the AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine via the Covax programme, while the country would import 117,000 other doses, Cuong said at a meeting of permanent government members on pandemic prevention and control held in Hanoi on Monday.
The meeting of permanent government members on pandemic prevention and control held in Hanoi on Monday
With the vaccine doses, around five million people will be given the first injection, prioritising those who are on the frontline of the coronavirus fight.
At the meeting, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc ordered the health sector to conduct all necessary measures to make Covid-19 vaccines available in Vietnam this month either through purchasing or from UN organisations.
The government leader noted that importing Covid-19 vaccines should be a top priority of the government, while also urging quicker research progress on locally-made Covid-19 vaccines as well.
Phuc approved the enforcement of social distancing under Directive 16 of the entirety of Hai Duong province, adding that Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City can implement the measure in high-risk areas.
