Ministry asked to approve US, Russian COVID-19 vaccines

The Advisory Council for the Registration of Circulation of Drugs and Medicinal Ingredients under the Ministry of Health (MoH) has proposed that the Health Ministry approve the use of COVID-19 vaccines produced by Moderna Company of the US and JSC Generium Company of Russia, for urgent use in Vietnam.

The first vaccine batch, comprising 117,000 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, arrived in Vietnam on February 24. The first to receive vaccine shots will be priority groups, including health workers, forces participating in COVID-19 prevention and control activities; diplomats, customs and immigration officers; army and police forces; teachers; people over 65 years old; those providing essential services in the fields of aviation, transportation, tourism, electricity and water services; people with chronic diseases; those wishing to go to work and study abroad; and residents in pandemic-hit areas in line with epidemiological indications.

Vaccination will start in early March, and 1.2 million more doses may be added to the programme in late March.

Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long said the ministry will secure 90 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine from different sources in 2021.

The MoH is making every effort to carry out the vaccination drive, which is the biggest ever in the country, towards ensuring the schedule and coverage of the programme, Long stressed.

Regarding domestic production of vaccine, the minister said all relevant stages are going as schedule.

Vietnam expects to produce vaccines by 2022, he added.