Vietnam PM instructs to purchase COVID-19 vaccines – the said vaccines are potentially to be secured in the first quarter of this year!
The country’s PM instructs to purchase COVID-19 vaccines in the first quarter of this year.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has instructed the Ministry of Health to secure the purchase of the COVID-19 vaccines at the height of the new COVID-19 variant.
Vietnam has confirmed the second wave of the pandemic after a 55 days gap and currently spreading all throughout 5 localities in the country including the capital.
There are already 180 people confirmed that are affected by the new variant as of this week. Currently, the Ministry of Health has approved the vaccine from AstraZeneca PLC for domestic utilization.
AstraZeneca assured to provide the country with around 30 million of doses this year, with the first batch to be dropped in the first quarter.
The Ministry of Health has also stepped up in negotiating with Pfizer, Moderna and other manufacturers from other countries such India, China and Russia in the hopes of providing the first dose of vaccine to its people during the first quarter.
Two million vaccine doses will be secured for the people of the port city of Hai Phong where the new variant was first discovered.
In the efforts to speed up the production of vaccines, Vietnam has also been expediting the domestic manufacturing of the vaccines.
Nanocovax was first tested on humans last December 17 and has been deemed safe but the vaccine’s efficacy to battle COVID-19 has not yet been determined.
On the other hand, the Covivac produced by the ministry’s Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals has also been approved to be tested on humans however, trials will be scheduled in mid-February after the Lunar New Year.
There are also other vaccines that are currently being developed by the Vaccine and Biological Production Company and the Center of Research Production of Vaccines and Biologicals.
Vietnam has noted 1,957 cases of COVID wherein 457 are still active. The latest outbreak in the country began just weeks prior to its biggest festival where most locals travel home to reunite and celebrate with the family.
