Vietnam to purchase COVID-19 vaccines from Russia, UK

The Ministry of Health (MoH) is doing its best to secure a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible.

The Ministry of Health has registered its interest in buying COVID-19 vaccines from Russia and the UK.
The Ministry of Health has registered its interest in buying COVID-19 vaccines from Russia and the UK.

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At a meeting of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control on August 14, a representative from the ministry said that it has instructed the relevant authorities to urgently carry out domestic research for and production of a COVID-19 vaccine, while promoting international coordination with prestigious companies and partners around the world in vaccine production and supply.

The ministry has registered its interest to buy Russian and British made vaccines. However, delivery is dependent on many factors, the ministry said.

* On the same day, the ministry sent a written request to hospitals and health departments across the country to continue strengthening and replenishing their forces regarding rapid response mobile teams, to be ready to support localities when needed.

* The MoH has assigned Hanoi Medical University Hospital and the National Children's Hospital to support the health sector in Hai Duong province with COVID-19 testing, after the province detected three newly-infected cases in relation to patients previously confirmed as having contracted the coronavirus.

Hai Duong Medical Technical University and Hai Duong Central College of Pharmacy were asked to send students to support and coordinate with the local health sector in epidemiological investigating, zoning, quarantine and taking samples for testing.

* On August 14, the MoH’s Administration of Examination and Treatment sent a dispatch requesting Hanoi-based Bach Mai Hospital appoint a team to support Hai Duong province, as well as supporting COVID-19 testing for the players and coaching staff of the men's national U22 and U19 football teams.

It also sent a written request to Military Hospital 108 and other hospitals urgently seeking the tightening of screening, isolating and taking specimens to facilitate the management of suspected COVID-19 infections.

* On August 14, the Hai Duong People's Committee decided to halt a series of activities to focusing on epidemic prevention and control, such as suspending the approval of foreign workers to enter and quarantine at local hotels, allowing local students to leave school and the suspension of training and testing regarding road vehicle driving licences.

* Also on that day, neighbouring Hai Phong city decided to raise its COVID-19 alert level, while setting up six quarantine and control posts in areas bordering Hai Duong to check and report medical declarations for people from Hai Duong and Hanoi entering Hai Phong.

* As of the afternoon of August 14, Hanoi authorities have collected 26,028 PCR test samples for people coming back from Da Nang, with 18,423 negative test results.

Hanoi leaders discuss solutions on COVID-19 prevention and control at a meeting on August 14, 2020. (Photo: NDO/Giang Nam)

Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Ngo Van Quy said that each day the city takes about 5,000 samples destined for PCR tests which is slower than expected but it will continue to complete sampling over the next week. He also asked the local authorities to strictly punish those not wearing facemasks in public amid the complex development of the epidemic.

* On the same day, Da Nang city decided to impose a medical blockage on several residential areas in Thanh Khe district as several cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection have been recorded there. The blockade will last until 17:00 on August 27.

* On August 14, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Truong Son came to work with the Disease Control Centre of the neighbouring Quang Nam province.

Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Truong Son (standing) speaks at a meeting with Quang Nam province leaders on their COVID-19 fight on August 14, 2020. (Photo: NDO/Manh Tran)

Son asked the province to continue to raise its testing capacity as well as speed up the tracking of close contacts of local COVID-19 cases. The MoH will provide maximum support to Quang Nam so that the province can quickly localise and stamp out the epidemic, he stressed.

* On the afternoon of August 14, Quang Tri Province decided to establish seven additional concentrated isolation camps, while promoting the tracing of close contacts of COVID-19 patients as well as speeding up testing for said people.