PM fixes deadline for domestic COVID-19 vaccine production

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visits Medicon Co., Ltd., a manufacturer of medical equipment in Viet Nam, located in An Khanh commune, Hoai Duc district, Ha Noi, June 24, 2021. Photo: VGP

Pham fixed the deadline when he was visiting several companies specializing in manufacturing of vaccines, biologicals and medical equipment on Thursday afternoon.

He demanded highest resolve in both vaccine research and transfer of production technology to realize the above goal as soon as possible.

Successful realization of the vaccine strategy is the top solution to prevent and push back the COVID-19 pandemic as Viet Nam, one of the most open economies in the world, is more likely vulnerable to the risk of COVID-19 importation.

Though technology transfer could not be done overnight while domestic vaccine research and development require sound scientific backgrounds, PM Pham still believes that Viet Nam has strong premises to translate the resolve into reality.

At present, the country is capable of producing 11 out of 12 types of vaccines for the expanded program on immunization (EPI), thus it must inherit and continue to build on that foundations.

In late February 2014, Viet Nam announced its success in producing a diarrhea vaccine for children for the first time, making it the fourth country in the world and second in Asia able to produce vaccines against rotavirus. 

Viet Nam is also carrying out research and human experiment of homegrown COVID-19 vaccines and has successfully manufactured many categories of products and equipment for the fight against the pandemic.

According to Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long, several companies have raced to build factories and seek domestic and foreign technologies so that the first large-scale vaccine production establishment could come into operation by the end of this year.

The Company for Vaccine and Biological Production No.1 (Vabiotech) - the biggest vaccine manufacturer and supplier for the EPI in Viet Nam is in talks with Russia to produce Sputnik V vaccine in the country.

By Kim Anh