HCMC – Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam on November 7 told the Ministry of Health to allocate Covid-19 vaccines to southern provinces, including those in the Central Highlands, so that all adults there can get their first vaccine shot within five days.
According to a Government Office statement on the deputy prime minister’s request, the Ministry of Health must also ensure sufficient vaccines for the second shot for people who got the first dose and children aged between 12 and 17 in these provinces.
The Ministries of Health and National Defense will arrange vaccination teams for these provinces as soon as possible, the local media reported.
Deputy PM Dam also assigned the Ministry of Health to ensure antivirals for Covid-19 patients to prevent severe illness and death.
On November 3, the national steering committee for Covid-19 infection prevention and control also asked the ministry to ensure enough vaccines for the Mekong Delta and the Central Highlands.
The move was made after many southern localities had upgraded their pandemic transmission risk levels due to a surge in new Covid-19 cases and clusters.
At a regular Cabinet meeting on November 6, Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long said Vietnam had secured 195 million vaccine doses and 124 million doses had been shipped to the country.
Nearly 95% of adults 18 and older in 19 southern provinces have received the first dose and more than 50% have been fully inoculated.
