Reshuffle health minister

Vietnamese Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long speaks at the meeting ( Photo: SGGP)

Authorities faced difficulties in managing illicit immigration by sea and on roads because Vietnam has long border line, the Minister emphasized.

VGP – Translated by Uyen Phuong

Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long addresses the meeting.

Long issued the warning during a meeting in Hanoi on March 26 after the Ministry of Health confirmed two fresh coronavirus infections earlier the same day.

Both patients, with one in HCM City and the other in Hai Phong, had tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus after illegally entering Vietnam from Cambodia.

“I am worried about a possible new outbreak of the disease in Vietnam because the COVID-19 pandemic remains complicated in the region,” Long told the meeting.

According to the Health Minister, since the initial outbreak of the virus the country has deployed 10,000 border guards working around the clock across 1,600 checkpoints to manage illegal entry and exit activities.

However, Vietnam has long and wide border lines, making it very challenging to fully manage illegal movement, said the minister.

Statistics show large numbers of people have been found illegally entering Vietnam through unmanned paths and trails, exposing the country to higher risks of community transmission.

The minister warned that the risk of infection remains high in the community as the source of many cases remains unknown, with several cases showing no signs of any symptoms.

Due to this latest development, the minister stressed that the pandemic could break out again at any time. He called on various ministries, agencies, and localities to strictly abide by the PM’s instructions on COVID-19 prevention and control.

Prevention and control efforts in high-risk areas must be swiftly enhanced, he said.

The third COVID-19 wave struck Vietnam in late January 2021. More than 900 infections have been confirmed in 13 cities and provinces nationwide. About 10 localities have reported no new locally transmitted cases for more than a month.

Ministers held an extraordinary virtual meeting on Wednesday just after the European Medicines Agency (EMA) changed its guidance on the vaccine as it found possible links with very rare cases of unusual blood clots with low blood platelet counts, although it said the vaccine’s advantages still outweighed risks.

Before the meeting, ministers were urged by Portugal, current president of the Council of the EU, to seek common ground on the use of the vaccine, a letter seen by Reuters showed.

But ministers agreed no common position at the meeting and maintained different guidance.

An EU official said talks will continue in coming meetings.

“We expect this announcement (from EMA) will have a direct and immediate impact not only on our national vaccination plans, but also in our citizens’ trust in vaccines against Covid-19,” Portugal warned in its letter to the ministers on Tuesday.

The EU is grappling with a slow vaccine rollout caused by supply problems and by repeated changes in the use of the AstraZeneca shot, which have increased vaccine hesitancy.

“Harmonization at an EU level will be essential to stop the spread of misinformation,” the letter added.

“It is essential that we follow a coordinated European approach. An approach which does not confuse citizens, and that does not fuel vaccine hesitancy,” EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides told ministers at the meeting, according to her speaking points.

Different age limits

But EU countries are recommending different age limits for the use of the vaccine, even though EMA recommended none because of a lack of data warranting them.

Germany has limited the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine to people over 60 and high-priority groups, and the country’s vaccine commission recommended that people under 60 who have had a first shot should receive a different product for their second dose.

France and Belgium said the vaccine should only be given to people aged 55 and over.

In Finland it is given only to people aged 65 and over.

Other EU countries have currently no limits on the vaccine.

At the start of the vaccine roll-out in late January, Germany and France recommended that the AstraZeneca vaccine should be given only to people under 65, and Italy and Spain initially advised it only for the under-55s because they deemed the trial data for elderly people to be insufficient.

The vaccine was also suspended for a short while in March in several EU countries after first cases of blood clotting emerged, despite a lack of causal connection to the jab.

Health minister Nguyen Thanh Long during talks with Chinese, Indian, and Russian ambassadors on COVID-19 vaccines. — VNA/VNS Photo

The health minister congratulated the three countries on their achievements in developing, manufacturing, and distributing COVID-19 vaccines, as well as thanked the three countries for their support and cooperation in Vietnam’s own fight against the pandemic.

Regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, Long said Vietnam has reviewed its protocols on approving foreign COVID-19 vaccines for emergency uses, and cut back on administrative procedures to ensure fast approval and licensing, however, the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine is still the highest priority.

Minister Long asked China to support Vietnam with vaccine supply to ensure coverage for prioritised groups, including Vietnamese citizens who wish to work or study in China as China has started to implement vaccination certificates to facilitate visas for those who had been inoculated with Chinese-made vaccines.

Vabiotech Company (under the Ministry of Health) serves as the focal point responsible for approaching, negotiations, and overall assessment of resources, COVID-19 supply capacity of Chinese partners, as well as demand for use of vaccines in Vietnam, according to Long.

“We hope to soon receive the application documents for COVID-19 vaccines from China. If the documents meet our requirements, the approval could be done within two weeks,” Long said.

Minister Long and Indian ambassador to Vietnam Pranay Verma also discussed vaccine cooperation.

India currently manufactures two main types of COVID-19 vaccines, one by AstraZeneca (this type is not for Vietnam’s market), and one developed by Indians, Covaxin. A private company in Vietnam has submitted a request to the health ministry to get licences for distribution of the vaccine in Vietnam, according to the health minister.

The Indian ambassador said the embassy is still discussing with Indian vaccine producers on lending help for Vietnam in conducting phase 3 human trials of Vietnamese-made COVID-19 vaccines, which would need to involve thousands of volunteers.

The two sides have also agreed to step up investment cooperation in Vietnam’s pharmaceutical industry.

Talking to Minister Counselor of the Russian Embassy in Vietnam Bublikov Vadim, Minister Long reiterated that the country has approved for emergency use Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine.

Regarding Vietnam’s proposals on supply of the vaccine as well as cooperation to manufacture Sputnik V right in Vietnam, the Russian diplomat said they are willing to work with the health ministry and other agencies to implement deals regarding Sputnik V.

Vietnam is set to receive some 60 million doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines this year – 30 million from COVAX Facility and 30 million through commercial purchases with the company itself, and is looking for more options – including domestically developed vaccines – to achieve herd immunity (80 per cent coverage of its near 100 million population).

VNS

First shipment of 811,200 COVID-19 vaccine doses supported by COVAX Facility arrived in Nội Bài International Airport, Hà Nội Thursday morning. — VNA/VNS Photo Minh Quyết

HÀ NỘI — Health minister Nguyễn Thanh Long late Thursday had talks with diplomatic representatives and UN delegations in Việt Nam about securing more COVID-19 vaccines and ensuring a safe and rapid inoculation drive.

The minister met with UNICEF Representative to Việt Nam Rana Flowers, WHO Representative Kidong Park, and UNPFA Naomi Kitahara, to thank them for efforts in bringing COVID-19 vaccines to Việt Nam under the COVAX Facility , with the f irst shipment of more than 800,000 doses of AstraZeneca arriving early Thursday morning.

The COVID-19 vaccine is the priority of every country in the world right now, and in Việt Nam, along with prevention and control efforts, the Government pays “special attention” to administrating vaccines to return to a ‘normal life’ and get the economy back on track, with the goal of having 150 million doses in 2021 to achieve herd immunity, according to the minister.

Long said there should be a joint communique between UN agencies in Việt Nam and the health ministry on the effectiveness and safety of COVID-19 vaccines, as well as the safety of the Việt Nam’s vaccination drive, to raise awareness on the issue and accelerate the number of people inoculated.

Long told the UN agencies’ delegates that to date, all 50,000 people, identified as priority groups in the Government’s Resolution 21, had received AstraZeneca shots safely, some experienced more serious side effects but the country’s health system has dealt with the problems effectively and they have all recovered.

Cold chain storage for the vaccine as well as technical training and support was also discussed.

The UNICEF Representative said that a batch of syringes to go along with the vaccines received on Thursday would arrive next week.

The Vietnamese health minister also held talks with EU Ambassador to Việt Nam Giorgio Aliberti, US Ambassador Daniel J Kritenbrink, Japanese Ambassador Yamada Takio – countries who make major donations to the COVAX initiative.

The health minister congratulated the US for developing many effective COVID-19 vaccines, such as Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson, and currently being the world’s leader in vaccination efforts with 220 million doses administered in such a short time.

Long requested the US to facilitate Việt Nam’s accesses to these vaccines, both as aid and procurement.

For his part, the US ambassador congratulated Việt Nam for “amazing success” in containing the pandemic, and said the two sides would set up an ad hoc group to address Việt Nam’s requests on vaccine access.

In talks with the EU ambassador, Long asked the EU to give priority to Việt Nam in facilitating access to EU supplies of vaccines, as well as provide technical assistance and training to ensure the success of Việt Nam’s inoculation efforts.

He also called for European pharmaceutical companies and medical supplies producers to invest in Việt Nam as the country is a highly potential market with its sizeable population.

In the meeting with the Japanese diplomat, health minister Long asked for cooperation in vaccine production and trialling of Japanese COVID-19 vaccines, which are under development but showing promising signs.

The Minister also said Việt Nam hoped Japan would support the country’s expanded immunisation programme, a large endeavour that requires heavy investment and capacity. — VNS