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Specifically, the vaccine has been given to 6,287 people in Hai Duong, Hanoi (163), Hung Yen (840), Bac Ninh (312), Bac Giang (823), Hai Phong (205), HCMC (774), Gia Lai (200), Long An (193), Danang (117), Hoa Binh (32) and Khanh Hoa (95), Vnexpress reported.

In particular, Hai Duong, Vietnam’s biggest Covid-19 hotspot has given priority of inoculation for medical staff at 6 districts namely Hai Duong city and districts of Cam Giang, Chi Linh, Nam Sach, Kinh Mon, and Nam Thanh. Those in the remaining districts will be injected from March 17.

The vaccine recipients include medical workers directly treating Covid-19 patients, those involve in taking samples, testing, contact tracing, and members of Covid-19 community groups.

The vaccine used in the ongoing vaccination rollout in Vietnam is developed and manufactured by the British-Swedish firm AstraZeneca in collaboration with Oxford University. Photo: Vnexpress

According to quick reports by the vaccination sites, no serious reactions were detected on recipients on March 13. Previously, 12 people developed severe reactions, reactions at 2-3 levels after the injection such as urticaria, pruritus, angioedema at the injection site, and breathing difficulty.

In detail, HCMC Hospital for Tropical Diseases recorded 6 people experiencing reactions, Hai Phong Center for Disease Control (4), Gia Lai Field Hospital (1). All of them are now in stable health conditions.

The Health Ministry on March 13 required HCMC, Hai Phong, and Gia Lai to investigate, evaluate and conclude the causes of severe complications after the Covid-19 vaccination.

Vaccine recipients were asked to provide their health situation, immunization history, and types of medicine they have recently used.

Vaccine used in the ongoing vaccination rollout in Vietnam is developed and manufactured by the British-Swedish firm AstraZeneca in collaboration with Oxford University. The first batch of 117,600 vaccine doses arrived in Vietnam on February 24. An additional 5 million doses from global vaccine access mechanism Covax, UNICEF, and Vietnam Vaccine Joint Stock Company’s purchasing contract are expected to arrive in March and April.

One frontline worker in Ho Chi Minh city receives the vaccine. Photo: Vnexpress.

Vietnam is also negotiating with the U.S.’s Pfizer and Moderna and other vaccine manufacturers in Russia and China.

AstraZeneca vaccine has been given to residents in more than 50 countries in the world. Nine European nations including Denmark, Iceland, and Norway have suspended the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine following reports of severe cases of blood clots in people who have been injected with it, the AFP reported.

Thailand also followed the move, delaying its rollout program.

However, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the U.K.’s regulatory body have said that there is no indication that vaccination is linked to thromboembolic events.

The vaccine’s benefits continue to outweigh its risks and the vaccine can continue to be administered while the investigation of cases of thromboembolic events is ongoing, the EMA said.

There has not been a single case of blood clots reported in Vietnam; hence, it will continue its vaccine rollout.

According to AstraZeneca, the vaccine is 76 percent effective, increasing to 81 percent after the second shot.

First 100 medical workers in Khanh Hoa receive COVID-19 vaccine On March 12 morning, 100 medical workers at Khanh Hoa Hospital for Tropical Diseases were administered Covid-19 vaccine.

Level 2 Anaphylaxis found in 4 more COVID-19 vaccine recipients, however, it's under control now According to reports from different vaccination sites, there have been 4 more level 2 anaphylaxis cases and several others who suffer side effects.

In Photo: First medical workers in Da Nang vaccinated with Covid-19 Da Nang held the first injections of Covid-19 vaccines for medical staff on the morning of March 12.