Covid 19 vaccines

Seafarers should be put on priority list for COVID-19 vaccine

April 12, 2021 by vietnamnews.vn

Seafarers wear protective clothing. — Photo vinalines.com.vn

HÀ NỘI — The Ministry of Transport (MoT) has asked the Government to add seafarers and maritime workers to the list of frontline workers to receive COVID-19 vaccinations.

This agency also requested the Government to direct the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to help Vietnamese crew members who stuck abroad return home on repatriation flights.

Vietnamese seafarers who are quarantined in concentrated isolation areas should be prioritised at an affordable cost, the MoT said in the written request to governments and People’s Committees of provinces and cities.

At the end of March, leaders of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the World Health Organisation (WHO) issued a joint statement calling on United Nations member states to put seafarers and crew members at the head of the vaccine queue to facilitate safe travel between countries.

In a letter sent to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Nguyễn Xuân Sang, Director of the Vietnam Maritime Administration and Deputy Secretary-General of the IMO Vietnam, asked IMO to prioritise COVID-19 vaccinations for sailors regardless of their nationality.

Sang proposed that IMO member countries include maritime workers on their priority lists , administering the vaccines to sailors and maritime workers on vessels that dock at ports under their management.

The Vietnam Shipowners’ Association the move is to keep nation supplied with vital goods and contributing to the recovery and stabilisation of the economy.

Volunteers injected with made-in-Vietnam COVID candidate vaccine

Six volunteers on Monday received the second shot of a homegrown COVID-19 vaccine, COVIVAC.

These people were injected with the first shot of COVIVAC, Việt Nam’s second candidate vaccine against SARS-CoV-2, on March 15.

The vaccine was developed by Nha Trang-based Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals (IVAC).

Ninety-six volunteers have been had been given the first shot in the first phase of COVIVAC’s clinical trials, according to Phạm Thị Vân Anh, director of Centre for Clinical Pharmacology, Hà Nội Medical University.

There were no serious reactions after 24-hours and 7-days in the volunteers.

Reactions were expected, mostly mild symptoms such as pain at the injection site and headache.

It is expected that the first shot of COVIVAC vaccine’s test will be completed on April 18 for 120 volunteers. — VNS

Over 34 billion VND for COVID-19 vaccine purchase in HCM City

April 12, 2021 by en.vietnamplus.vn

At the event (Photo: VNA)

HCM City (VNA) – The Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee in Ho Chi Minh City on April 12 received over 34 billion VND (1.47 million USD) from businesses, local residents and overseas Vietnamese to buy COVID-19 vaccines.

The programme was held by the Ho Chi Minh Television in the first stage from February 25 to March 31, said Chairwoman of the committee To Thi Bich Chau.

Earlier on March 15, Chau received 1 billion VND from the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha ‘s HCM City chapter in support of the effort.

The fund distributed supplies, equipment and cash valued at more than 179.6 billion VND to forces directly involved in the pandemic prevention and control at hospitals, medical stations, quarantine facilities, and the poor hit hard by the pandemic./.

VNA

COVID-19: Nine imported cases recorded, recoveries reach 2,445

April 12, 2021 by vov.vn

Among the new cases, there are five imported cases from India, Ukraina, Moldova, Uzbekistan, and Germany, and the remaining four Vietnamese returnees. All of them were put into isolation upon entry to undergo treatment at local hospitals.

Following the latest discovery, the overall number of positive coronavirus cases rose to 2,705 nationwide, including 1,570 local infections and, 1,135 imported cases.

Meanwhile, more than 36,930 people are being quarantined for medical surveillance, while 50 cases have tested negative for the SARS-CoV-2 virus at least one.

The ministry reported that a further 6,005 people were given COVID-19 vaccinations from April 5-11, boosting the total number of vaccinated people to 58,418.

Elsewhere, the northern province of Yen Bai has received 4,500 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine for COVID-19 prevention and control from the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology. It is expected that the vaccination will be launched in early May.

HCM City urged to put COVID-19 response measures in place

April 12, 2021 by vov.vn

During a meeting held between municipal authorities and the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control on April 12, Phong said that on April 10 alone Cambodia recorded a further 477 positive COVID-19 cases, with the figure rising to 800 in Thailand.

He therefore urged local authorities to take steps to reinforce measures aimed at combating the COVID-19 pandemic, although there has been no new cases detected within the community over the past two months.

This comes after the border area in Long An province has witnessed many young Chinese nationals illegally enter the country with the aim of moving on to Cambodia in order to find employment.

Furthermore, the number of overseas Vietnamese who have tried to return home from Cambodia has been rising due to concerns about the development of the COVID-19 pandemic in the neighbouring country.

The mayor has therefore called on every ward and commune to closely monitor the number of immigrants, with local policemen being urged to co-ordinate efforts with soldiers in order to ensure safety when receiving and putting illegal immigrants into isolation.

As of April 10, as many as 7,530 medical workers have been vaccinated in the first stage against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, with Ho Chi Minh City set to receive 56,000 doses for the second stage of the ongoing vaccination process this week.

Furthermore, over 42,000 medical workers and 10,000 staff working at airports remain among the priority group in the second stage, according to Nguyen Tan Binh, director of Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Health.

Phong added that although the southern city has received the largest amount of vaccines across the country, it will not be enough to vaccinate all local residents.

Whilst the risk of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak remains significant residents must stay vigilant and local authorities should also prepare for the worst case scenario, he stressed.

HCM City concerned about Covid-19 infection risks from Cambodia

April 12, 2021 by dtinews.vn

Authorities in HCM City are worried about the risk of Covid-19 infection from neighbouring countries, particularly Cambodia, due to illegal immigrants.

This morning, April 12, the HCM City Covid-19 Prevention and Control Steering Board held an urgent meeting with concerned agencies about the complicated situation of Covid-19 pandemic in Cambodia and the world.

At the event, chairman of the municipal people’s committee Nguyen Thanh Phong said that on April 10, Cambodia saw up to 447 new Covid-19 cases and the figure was 800 cases in Thailand. This has posed risks for HCM City as many Chinese people have been found illegally entering Vietnam in order to seek entry to Cambodia.

Chairman of the HCM City people’s committee Nguyen Thanh Phong at the meeting

Lots of Vietnamese people have also been caught leaving Cambodia to return Vietnam to avoid the pandemic. Phong requested HCM City to tighten control over the entry to detect illegal immigrants. Every ward in the city needs to closely supervise the local population to deal with this. The city’s police and army have been assigned to co-operate quarantine illegal immigrants. Over the past two months, HCM City has seen no new Covid-19 community transmission cases. At the meeting, Nguyen Tan Binh, director of the municipal Department of Health, said by April 10, HCM City had provided Covid-9 vaccination for 7,500 medical staff and around 1,000 police officers who have been on duty on Covid-19 prevention and control. In the coming time, the city will get 56,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine for prioritised groups, including 42,000 medical staff and 10,000 airport and customs staff.

Thailand confirms daily record rise in new COVID-19 cases

April 12, 2021 by en.vietnamplus.vn

Thailand on April 12 reports 985 new cases of COVID-19, the biggest daily jump since the outbreak of the pandemic. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Thailand on April 12 reported 985 new cases of COVID-19, the biggest daily jump since the outbreak of the pandemic.

The nation has reported a total of 33,610 coronavirus cases, while deaths remained at 97.

On April 11, the country reported 967 new COVID-19 infections, including 263 in the capital city of Bangkok.

Sophon Iamsirithaworn, Deputy Director-General of the Disease Control Department, said most new transmissions were related to the pub clusters that then spilled to other provinces across Thailand.

Meanwhile, the Cambodian Ministry of Health on April 12 reported 277 new cases of COVID-19, mostly in the capital of Phnom Penh with 204 cases.

The new infections raised the country’s total cases associated with the “February 20 COVID-19 Community Event” to 3,982 and the accumulative infections recorded since the pandemic broke out in Cambodia to 4,515.

Of the number, 2,212 have been recovered and fatalities reached 30.

Kim Santepheap, Secretary of State and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Justice, confirmed that those with COVID-19 who evades medical treatment or attempts to do so is liable to be sentenced to imprisonment for between 1-5 years.

The Cambodia n government on April 11 issued an 8-article ordinance on mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for government officials and armed force members./.

VNA