(VOVWORLD) - 117,000 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine reached Vietnam on Wednesday, the first of 30 million doses that will be brought in by the Vietnam Vaccine Joint Stock Company (VNVC) from AstraZeneca.
 (Photo: nhandan.com.vn) |
Associate Professor Doctor Tran Dac Phu, senior advisor at the Center for Emergency Response to Public Health Events, said, “We will vaccinate high-risk groups first. We will closely monitor their health to ensure safety.”
Vietnam will be the first ASEAN country to access the AstraZeneca vaccine. VNVC is negotiating to buy more vaccines from other producers.
The Health Ministry met with WHO and UNICEF representatives to discuss an immunization plan, certification, and a communications campaign. They said they will adhere to the Government resolution on equitable access to vaccines by all.
Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long said his Ministry will promptly deal with procedure-related issues to facilitate the delivery of vaccines under the COVAX Facility program. This will be the biggest vaccination campaign in Vietnam’s history, with more than 100 million doses, Long said, adding that the Health Ministry has charted scenarios and mobilized all units inside and outside the medical sector.