What vaccinations do you get as a child

International tourism is a significant driver of the Vietnamese economy, accounting for 9.2 percent of the country’s GDP in 2019 with a record 18 million foreign visitors, a 16.2 percent increase compared to the previous year.

In a letter sent to the Prime Minister recently, the National Tourism Advisory Council (TAB) recommended that in order for Vietnam to avoid falling behind other competing countries in tourism attraction, it needs technical and policy solutions to draw back tourists in a timely manner. They argued that several of Vietnam’s international tourism competitors, such as Thailand, are already planning to reopen their borders in a safe way to support travel by business people, experts, and foreign tourists.

The tourism industry is awaiting a quick recovery

However, Hoang Nhan Chinh, Head of the TAB Secretariat, emphasized that welcoming back international visitors must be based on Vietnam’s ability to detect Covid-19 infection and handle such cases.

At a meeting last month with localities, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc assigned relevant authorities to consider appropriate control measures for when Vietnam accepts vaccine passports and reopens international routes.

The digital vaccine passport proving an individual has been vaccinated against the coronavirus could be stored on a phone or a digital wallet, and the data displayed in the form of a QR code.

Mobile networks have told authorities that the necessary technical infrastructure to keep track of vaccination certificates for foreigners would be ready starting in April. Currently, Vietnam applies a 14-day quarantine rule for guests and immigrants, including those who have been vaccinated.

Vaccine certification pilot programs

A number of countries and organizations have piloted digitized certification tools. For example, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has developed a digital tool called the Digital Travel Pass, used to help passengers manage their travel schedules and prove to airlines and authorities that they have been vaccinated or tested for Covid-19. The World Economic Forum (WEF) and the Common Project (Switzerland) are in the testing phase of the Common Pass, which allows users to access information about the tests and vaccines.

IBM Corporation has also introduced a Digital Health Pass that integrates multiple data such as temperature check, virus exposure warning, test results and vaccine injection status. IBM said the pass would help people return to public places such as work, schools, stadiums or flights.

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) also discussed the integration of vaccination certification into plans for safe tourism launches and enhancing confidence in the tourism industry. According to the UNWTO, the certification will be a particularly important tool in promoting a safe re-start of international tourism activities.

Hoa Quynh

They are the first out of the total 120 volunteers in the trials to receive the second shot, which is administered 28 days after the first one.

Since the start of the trials (March 15), 96 volunteers have been injected with the first shot and the remainder are expected to be inoculated by April 18.

In July, a mid-term report on the vaccine’s trials is planned to be done.

Covivac, which was developed by the Health Ministry’s Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals, is in the first stage of clinical testing by the Hanoi Medical University’s Centre of Clinical Pharmacology.

According to Associate Professor, Dr Pham Thi Van Anh, head of the centre, 66 volunteers showed slight reactions like swelling in injected area and headache, which disappeared within 24 hours after injection without need for treatment, and no serious side effects were seen during the seven days after injection.

According to Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan, the ministry is expecting that Vietnam will have its own vaccine for use and even export between late 2021 and early 2022.

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