HCMC – The National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology has suggested customs agencies to facilitate the customs clearance procedures for 31 million doses of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccines that the institute will receive from Belgium to ensure the quality of the vaccine.
The institute on August 23 wrote to the relevant agencies, including the HCMC Customs Department, the Tan Son Nhat International Airport Customs Branch and the Express Customs Branch, pledging to comply with import procedures, the local media reported.
However, customs procedures should be completed quickly as the vaccine must be stored at an ultra-low temperature during the transport process.
The National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology also proposed not checking the vaccine. In case it is required, the checking process should not exceed three minutes.
Vietnam has signed contracts to buy more than 51 million Pfizer vaccine doses. Three million doses will arrive in Vietnam this quarter and the remaining 47 million doses are expected to be handed over next quarter.
Besides the vaccine imported from Belgium, the Ministry of Health has approved the Pfizer vaccine produced in the United States.
In related news, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, during a phone talk with Vietnamese State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc on August 23, committed to providing 10 million doses of its Abdala Covid-19 vaccine and transferring the vaccine production technology to Vietnam by the end of this year.
President Phuc highly appreciated Cuba’s experience in coping with the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as the results of the two sides’ discussions in supplying and transferring the Abdala vaccine production technology to Vietnam. He affirmed that the effective cooperation in Covid-19 vaccines demonstrates the special solidarity between the two countries.
For his part, Miguel thanked the Party, State and people of Vietnam for donating rice to help Cuba overcome difficulties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
He said Cuba attached much importance to the vaccine cooperation with Vietnam and would strive to supply the vaccine and send experts to Vietnam to transfer the vaccine production technology.
Cuba approved the Abdala vaccine, developed by BioCubaFarma, for emergency use on July 9 as it was proved to be 97% effective for people taking three injections.
In addition, the Chinese Ministry of National Defense on the same day presented 200,000 doses of the Vero Cell vaccine produced by the China National Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd. (Sinopharm) and 201,600 disposable syringes to the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense.
Deputy Minister of National Defense Hoang Xuan Chien thanked the Chinese side for its timely support, highlighting the practical meaning of the gift amid the complicated developments of the pandemic in Vietnam.
After being verified, the vaccine will be administered to the military force participating in the fight against the pandemic.
