Vietnam begins the injection of Covid-19 vaccine today [March 8], enabling the country to protect its people amid uncertainties in the global health crisis and thin antibiotic supply.
| AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine before injection. Photo: VNExpress |
At 8:00 am, first shots of 117,500 doses of AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine have been given to health workers in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Hai Duong – the pandemic epicenter of the fresh coronavirus outbreak.
Health workers are first recipients of the first shot. The second shot will be taken in 12 weeks.
In Hanoi: The National Hospital for Tropical Diseases – Dong Anh is the first recipient of the doses. It’s the treatment hub for Covid-19 patients in the north of Vietnam. About 100 doctors and health workers of the hospital are first beneficiaries.
This hospital gets 450 doses in the Health Ministry’s allocation.
In Ho Chi Minh City: The National Hospital for Tropical Diseases – Ho Chi Minh City is the first in the priority list to get the inoculation on March 8. The hospital gets 900 doses.
In Hai Duong: The Hai Duong Medical Center is allowed to conduct the inoculation with 80 beneficiaries today.
Being the Covid-19 hotspot, Hai Duong province is allocated 33,000 doses, the biggest among recipients nationwide.
Three health deputy ministers are authorized to supervise the immunization in three sites.
| Vaccine distributed to sites on March 8. Photo: Zing |
Associate Prof. Duong Thi Hong, deputy director of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE), said each vaccination site receives maximum 100 recipients per inoculation to ensure safety.
Recipients need to pass screening examinations before being injected. People with symptoms of cough, fever, and shortness in breath are not subject to the vaccination while those having underlying diseases, acute and chronic infections requiring treatment, chemotherapy, a history of allergy or anaphylaxis must have specific declaration.
After the injection of AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine, more than 10% catch side effects namely tiredness, annoyance, muscle pain and nausea.
Under the Health Ministry’s allotment, the first 117,500 doses are distributed to 13 cities and provinces affected by the fresh coronavirus outbreak that broke out in late January.
Roughly 600 doses are kept for quality verification, samples by the importer, and by The Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals (IVAC) as regulated.
