Elanco swine vaccines

The Hanoitimes – Vietnam said it ensures budget for inoculation to as much locals as possible.

Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said Tuesday morning that the government will ensure sufficient funding to administer Covid-19 vaccine to local people.

Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at a meeting on March 2. Photo: Quang Hieu/VGP

“We make sure that there’s enough funding, even direct support to vaccinate as many people in Vietnam as possible with the target to all,” Phuc said at a government meeting on March 2.

“This is an urgent task requiring the healthcare system at grassroots level to implement the vaccination program in the shortest time,” he noted in a statement.

Accordingly, Phuc asked the Ministry of Health to conduct first shots within this week.

“The Ministry of Health right this week needs to take first shots to groups of people in the priority list, mostly the poor, social beneficiaries, and people at high risk of infection,” Phuc stressed.

The first doses of vaccine arrived in Vietnam on February 24, likely being injected to health workers and frontline forces (members of the steering committee for Covid-19 prevention at all levels, people working in quarantine centers, contact tracers, volunteers, reporters, among others; army officers and policemen).

Others who are subject to the inoculation include (2) Vietnamese diplomats abroad; customs and state officials working in immigration service; (3) essential providers in aviation, transportation, tourism, clean water, electricity, among others; (4) teachers and employees in education sector; people working in administration agencies having frequent contact with others; (5) people with underlying diseases and those above 65 years of age; (6) people in the pandemic-hit areas; (7) the poor and social beneficiaries; (8) people in overseas mission; (9) other people decided by the Ministry of Health basing on the requirements of the pandemic control.

It’s reported that only 117,000 doses of AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine have so far arrived in the country of nearly 100 million people. Other batches totaling dozens of million doses are scheduled to be delivered within this year.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has instructed relevant agencies to start giving Covid-19 vaccinations this week.

The Hanoitimes – It is vital for Vietnam to further boost the development of private sector and public investment funds, in turn contributing to economic growth and creating the foundation for long-term development.

Vietnam would speed up socio-economic recovery to realize the growth target of 6.5% for this year.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the meeting. Photo: Quang Hieu

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc stressed the view at a monthly government meeting on March 2, which were attended by government leaders and representatives of ministries and sectors.

Among measures to boost growth, the PM stressed the importance of enhancing greater efficiency in global integration to boost exports and attract high quality   foreign direct investment (FDI).

“The current situation presents huge opportunity for Vietnam to attract investment capital,” stressed Phuc, adding a favorable investment environment is a must to keep capital inflow from growing.

In addition to the role of state-owned corporations, Phuc said it is vital for Vietnam to further boost the development of private sector and public investment funds, in turn contributing to economic growth and creating the foundation for long-term development.

According to Phuc, disbursement of public funds is a major mission, for which the Government Office is tasked with inspecting efficiency in disbursing public funds and ODA-funded projects.

Phuc stressed the importance of reviewing current supporting programs and proposing new ones to assist businesses and people affected by the pandemic.

“Nurturing economic growth drivers and creating long-term revenue sources are the objective for monetary and fiscal policies,” said Phuc.

The PM requested major economic hubs to play a greater role in aiding economic growth, especially Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Vung Tau, Danang, and Can Tho.

For economic sectors that are struggling with the Covid-19 impacts, including those in fields of aviation, services, and tourism, Phuc called for substantial measures to address their concern and difficulties.

Expansionary fiscal, monetary policies to boost growth

At the meeting, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung said Vietnam remains steadfast in pursuing expansionary fiscal and monetary policies to boost economic growth and control inflation rate.

Dung referred to a forecast that the Covid-19 pandemic would continue to exert its impacts on the global economy until at least the first half of 2021 or when Covid-19 vaccines are rolled out worldwide, as such, “keeping expansionary fiscal and monetary policies are necessary,” he added.

“It is important to enhance efficiency in the combination of fiscal and monetary policies to aid economic recovery and keep inflation under control,” Dung asserted.

“Government agencies and provinces/cities should closely monitor the market situation to timely propose supporting policies for people and businesses affected by the pandemic, especially for those operating in services, tourism and transportation sectors,” stressed Dung.

Meanwhile, the minister urged to stay alert against the Covid-19 pandemic as the country aims to ensure the realization of the dual target of both containing the pandemic and boosting economic recovery.

Amid the Covid-19 outbreak, Dung requested related agencies to soon issue a uniform safety procedure during the production and distribution of farm produce from Covid-19 zones to other localities.

While the world is still struggling with the Covid-19 impacts, “the domestic market remains a priority,” asserted Dung.

Dung also highlighted the importance of applying hi-tech and accelerating the digital transformation process and promoting e-commerce, in which local authorities should provide more support for enterprises to shift their operation online and apply e-payment methods.

“Vietnam would step up efforts in diversifying trade markets depending on the actual Covid-19 situation globally, while taking this opportunity to restructure the country’s export-import activities to reduce its reliance on a single market,” noted Dung.

With foreign direct investment (FDI) as a key source for economic growth, Dung called for a more selective approach in attracting such capital inflow, including a thoroughly review of M&A activities related to enterprises operating in national core and strategic business fields with high socio-economic impacts.

“The move is necessary to ensure favorable conditions for FDI attraction, protect domestic enterprises and prevent tax evasion through investment activities,” Dung concluded.

Assessing the implementation of the socio-economic development plan in the first two months of the year, the PM said outcomes have surpassed the figures reported earlier to the National Assembly, most notably those regarding public debt, budget overspending and collection, reserves, and major economic balances.

Vietnam has successfully fulfilled the dual goals of containing the COVID-19 pandemic and boosting production and business and ensuring normal social activities in the new context, he said.

The PM attributed the results to the engagement of the entire political system and the outstanding efforts of the business community and people nationwide, with significant contributions from the Government and its members, ministries, agencies, and localities.

Regarding key tasks in the time ahead, he stressed the need to optimise the opportunities and stay resolved to complete the tasks set for the first half of this year and the year as a whole, saying the first job is to realise the resolution adopted at the 13th National Party Congress.

More effort is needed to fight the pandemic and carry forward the “5K” principle – Khau trang (Facemasks) – Khu khuan (Disinfecting) – Khoang cach (Keeping distance) – Khong tap trung dong nguoi (No gatherings) – Khai bao y te (Medical declarations), and maintaining vigilance during the fight, he said.

He ordered the acceleration of vaccine provision for priority groups, including the poor, social policy beneficiaries, and at-risk people.

Given the difficulties facing businesses, Phuc urged ministries and agencies to further remove obstacles, promote production and business, and speed up socio-economic recovery, targeting growth of 6.5 percent.

He noted the need to select quality FDI sources amid the trend of inflow investment.

The PM also asked ministries and agencies to review and adjust current support packages and soon propose new packages to assist businesses and people in difficult circumstances.

The Minister of Planning and Investment presented a supplementary report to the meeting assessing the implementation of the socio-economic development plan in 2020.

Exports grew 7 percent; 1 percent higher than the previously reported figure. The urban unemployment rate stood at 3.88 percent; lower than the reported figure of 4.39 percent.

National GDP growth was 2.91 percent and per capita income 2,779 USD; both higher than the figures reported earlier.

Source: VNA