HCMC – Vietnam’s new locally-infected Covid-19 caseload plunged 11,208 cases day-on-day to 91,916 today, March 27, according to the Ministry of Health.
Hanoi still accounted for the biggest new case number, at 10,252, followed by Bac Giang with 3,997, Yen Bai with 3,977 and Nghe An with 3,976.
Daklak, Phu Tho, Lao Cai and Lang Son also had over 3,000 cases each.
The latest Covid cases have raised the country’s tally in the current fourth wave to over nine million, including nearly 5.35 million recoveries.
Today alone, nearly 185,900 patients were announced to have recovered from the disease.
Meanwhile, the ministry confirmed 48 Covid deaths, sending the country’s total Covid fatalities to 42,306.
In related news, the Ministry of Health has asked for the Government’s approval to receive 13.7 million Covid-19 vaccine doses, including 4.7 million Pfizer doses and nine million Moderna doses, offered by Australia for local children.
In a report sent to the prime minister on March 26, the ministry stated that the Australian Embassy in Hanoi would be responsible for the transport of the vaccines to Vietnam.
The vaccines will be delivered to Vietnam in two batches. The first batch, including 0.7 million Pfizer doses and nine million Moderna doses, can be shipped to Vietnam early next month.
The second batch, consisting of four million Pfizer doses, will be provided through UNICEF next month.
The Ministry of Health said it could begin the vaccination using the vaccines next month. It will also continue seeking other vaccine sources.
The ministry has yet to explain why it has proposed accepting the Moderna vaccine although the vaccine has not been approved for children.
In its report, the ministry informed that the European Medicines Agency and the Canadian and Australian health ministries recommended using the Spikevax (Moderna) vaccine for children aged 6-11. The ministry has received documents on the use of the vaccine for these children from Zullig Pharma Vietnam, which imports the Moderna vaccine into Vietnam.
