With the current progress, Vietnam is hopeful of owning a safe and effective domestically made Covid-19 vaccine by the end of 2021, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam said at a National Assembly sitting on November 6.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam speaks at a National Assembly sitting on November 6. Photo: Kinhtedothi.vn

Currently, four Vietnamese pharmaceuticals are researching anti-Covid-19 vaccines including Nanogen, Vabiotech, Polyvac and the Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals (IVAC).

"Of the four vaccine research companies in Vietnam, two are expected to conduct human trials of locally-made Covid-19 vaccines this month,” said Mr. Dam.

Vietnam’s health ministry and scientists are hoping to have a commercially-viable Covid-19 vaccine in the fourth quarter of 2021.

There are more than 170 countries which are engaged in researching and testing anti-Covid-19 vaccines, Mr. Dam said.

Ninety two countries worldwide, including Vietnam, have joined an initiative by the World Health Organization and the Global Vaccine Alliance to guarantee rapid, fair and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines for every one. However, no company has committed to selling the vaccines to this alliance, Mr. Dam informed.

He added that Vietnam is working with partners, including China and Russia, on vaccine manufacturing. It is not easy to buy Covid-19 vaccines because the demand far exceeds the production capacity. The government who wants to buy the vaccines must make a down payment.

Therefore, the deputy prime minister urged localities and individuals to remain vigilant, especially by closely monitoring illegal entry at border gates, as the looming winter-spring weather is conducive to the spread of the virus. 

In addition, people must learn to live safely with the pandemic, Dam said, adding that leaders of ministries, localities and individuals must be on high alert to prevent Covid-19 by complying with all anti-pandemic protocols.

Vietnam has recorded 1,207 Covid-19 cases so far, of them 100 are still active. A total of 35 have succumbed to the disease, many being elderly patients with underlying conditions like diabetes or kidney failure. No community transmission has been recorded in more than two months.