Chairing an online meeting of National Steering Committee on Covid-19 Prevention and Control with the 63 localities nationwide, the leader underlined Covid-19 has still developed complicatedly in the world with the occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron sub-lineage BA.5 in many countries, and that it is crucial to control the pandemic to create favourable conditions for socio-economic development, national protection and the improvement of people’s living conditions.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh addresses the meeting.

He stressed the need to give top priority to the ensuring of people’s lives and health, and to consider the pandemic prevention and control as the common task of the whole political system.

The Government leader highlighted the need to maintain three key pillars in Covid-19 fight – testing, quarantine and treatment, with the new pandemic control formula that sees the combination of mask wearing, disinfection, vaccine, treatment, technology, people’s awareness and other measures.

He asked ministries, sectors and localities to design scenarios to respond to all possible circumstances, including the re-emerge of the pandemic, while speeding up vaccination activities.

It is necessary to prevent and control the pandemic right from border gates, and continue to enhance the capacity of the health system, especially preventive medicine, he said. The PM asked the Ministry of Health to concentrate on implementing the socio-economic recovery and development in the medical sector.

PM Chinh also stressed the need to promptly complete and issue a Government resolution to remove difficulties in the procurement of medicine and medical equipment.

He requested the Ministry of Health and relevant ministries and sectors to simplify administrative procedures in medicine bidding and licensing, ensuring transparency during the process.

The Health Ministry was also requested to give priority to investing in the local health systems, while continuing to make assessments on herd immunity against SAR-CoV2 for timely solutions.

A report from the committee showed that since the beginning of this year, more than 9 million infections have been reported, including 8.3 million recoveries. As of July 7, 233 million Covid-19 vaccines doses had been administered, with about 80% of the adults receiving at least two doses, exceeding the WHO targets by 30%.

Workers get 4th Covid-19 vaccine shots for more chances of continuous protection

(BGO)- Although Covid-19 has been in good control, it poses risk of emerging new variants. Thus, together with other localities, Bac Giang is accelerating administering 4th vaccine shots to priority groups including workers. This is an important solution to secure stable production and maintain the post-pandemic economic growth momentum.

143,100 adults in Bac Giang injected with fourth Covid-19 vaccine shots

(BGO) - Bac Giang on June 13 administered Covid-19 vaccine to nearly 5,400 people, including about 2,300 children aged 5 to under 12 (first and second shot) and nearly 3,100 adults aged over 18 (fourth shot).

French paper spotlights Vietnam’s African swine fever vaccine

Vietnam will contribute to preventing a disease that is very destructive to livestock, said the French daily newspaper Le Figaro regarding the Southeast Asian nation’s announcement of becoming the first in the world to successfully research and produce an African swine fever vaccine and license it for commercial circulation.

Vietnam successfully produces vaccine against African swine fever

Vietnam has successfully produced a vaccine against African swine fever (ASF).

Hanoi to administer 4th Covid vaccine jabs this week

The Hanoi health department said Tuesday that more than 230,000 doses of the fourth Covid-19 vaccine shot would be administered this week.

Source: NDO/VNA