Vietnam seeks vaccine technology transfer
The ongoing fight against Covid-19 must be more comprehensive, effective, quicker, and stronger in order to stamp out the pandemic and control the situation.
Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has assigned the Ministries of Public Security and National Defence to seek vaccine production technology transfer, besides other measures to achieve the goal of the herd community in 2021.
| Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh gives his conclusion at the national online conference on May 29. Photo: VGP |
As many developing countries are fiercely competing to buy vaccines and get vaccine technology transfer, the government leader has asked relevant ministries to access sources by all means of diplomatic or business channels, as well as boosting the process of the domestic research and manufacturing of vaccines.
Chinh gave the statement when chairing the national online conference on Covid-19 prevention and control on May 29.
Deputy Minister of Finance Ta Anh Tuan said that the state budget has allocated VND13.4 trillion (US$580.4 million) for the purchase of vaccines against Covid-19.
The ministry will issue a document guiding the operation of the Vietnam Fund for Vaccination and Prevention of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (VFVC) in the coming week. In the short term, the fund is estimated at VND3 trillion (US$563 million), mobilized from the health ministry, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and state-owned enterprises.
The Prime Minister also called on individuals, organizations, and businesses to support the country via the fund to ensure that each person is vaccinated.
Swifter, stronger fight against Covid-19
Though the Covid-19 resurgence is under control nationwide, the developments of the coronavirus are complicating in some localities such as crowded industrial parks of Bac Giang, Bac Ninh, places of worship in Ho Chi Minh City, and a part of Hanoi.
The latest outbreak of Covid-19 came from a negligent attitude of a segment of the population, meanwhile, some localities have adopted ineffective measures to solve problems early, according to opinions at the meeting.
The Prime Minister recalled the spirit of "fighting the pandemic as fighting the enemy" and requested that the current fight against the disease be broader, more effective, faster, and stronger to end the pandemic and control the situation.
The government leader stressed that the first objective at the moment is to care for and protect people's health and lives. The second task is to contain, repel, control and stamp out the coronavirus, especially in key areas such as Bac Giang, Bac Ninh, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and industrial parks.
Relevant ministries and agencies should eliminate difficulties in terms of financial sources, medical supplies and create a favorable legal framework to combat the disease, Chinh said.
He required relevant authorities to strictly handle those who make use of Covid-19 prevention and control to distort, undermine, and disrupt order, causing social instability.
Hanoi has affirmed that the city is keeping the pandemic situation under control, and constantly on guard, in line with the instruction by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee, Chu Ngoc Anh, said that involving the entire political system in the fight against Covid-19 and clearly assigning responsibilities to each level of administration are Hanoi's experiences in dealing with the pandemic. A detected local infection (F0) would prompt all anti-pandemic forces to trace this person’s contacts in 48 hours or the golden period. The city's protocol will be localized zoning, strict management, comprehensive testing, as well as promotion of the grassroots and community-based Covid-19 prevention team, taking the upper hand in assessing the situation, preparing plans, and scenarios, as well as detection and action. |
