Vietnam News Today (September 11): HCM City Considers 'Green Passes' for Fully Vaccinated

VABIOTECH is expected to import the semi-finished Sputnik V vaccine for vial packaging in Vietnam. Photo: VNA

Sputnik V vaccine manufactured by Vietnam meets quality standards

The Company for Vaccine and Biological Production No.1 (VABIOTECH) has announced that it will soon import the semi-finished Sputnik V vaccine for vial packaging in Vietnam in the near future.

The first test batch of the Russian-developed Sputnik V vaccine manufactured by VABIOTECH in July 2021 under the auspices of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) has been certified by the Russian partner, a VABIOTECH representative told local media outlets on September 10.

The Russian side has now fully assessed the packaging of Sputnik V vaccine samples conducted by the company, judging it to meet the quality standards in line with its stringent requirements.

At present, the firm is working alongside relevant agencies to receive permits for the launch of the vaccine.

VABIOTECH will carry out procedures to import semi-finished products of the Sputnik V vaccine in September to quickly package the vaccine for use in Vietnam, said Dr. Do Tuan Dat, VABIOTECH Chairman, cited VOV.

RDIF and VABIOTECH signed an agreement on bottling and packaging Sputnik V vaccine vials from semi-finished products, with the scale set to be five million doses per month starting from July.

They are now working on the transfer of vaccine production technology aiming to produce 100 million doses annually.

The Sputnik vaccine, produced by Russia’s Generium JSC, has been granted approval by the Ministry of Health for emergency use in March for Covid-19 prevention work.

Last month, Vietnam negotiated with the Russian partner to purchase 20 million doses of the Sputnik V vaccine.

In late July, VABIOTECH sent 10,000 doses of the Sputnik V vaccine which were outsourced by the company to Russia in order to evaluate their quality standards.

HCM City considers 'green passes' for fully vaccinated, Covid recoveries

Fully vaccinated residents and those who've recovered from the coronavirus can be given "Covid-19 green passes" to resume normal daily lives, the HCMC Health Department has proposed.

The proposal, submitted Wednesday to the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, is part of preparations for scenarios after September 15.

The department said the number of new infections and deaths in the city should begin to fall after September 15 as coronavirus control measures were working.

As the city aims to vaccinate all its adult population, it can also look into relaxing certain restrictions gradually, based on infection risks and medical capabilities, the department said.

Depending on how well the virus has been contained, the "Covid-19 green passes" would allow the people to resume production and daily lives.

A man receives a Covid-19 vaccine shot in HCMC's Thu Duc City, August 15, 2021. Photo: VnExpress

Those eligible to get the passes would include fully vaccinated people who have produced enough antibodies, and those who have recovered from Covid-19 within the last six months.

In areas where social distancing orders are under Directive 15, a more relaxed version than Directive 16, people who have recovered as well as fully vaccinated people under 65 without underlying conditions may resume schooling, traveling both domestically and internationally, as well as participate in public activities, the department has proposed. They will not have to wear masks or maintain social distancing, reported VnExpress.

Those who have received only one vaccine shot, people who have recovered as well as fully vaccinated people above 65 or with underlying conditions may also engage in the aforementioned activities, except for traveling overseas, but will have to wear masks and keep their distance as required under pandemic prevention and containment measures.

Directive 15 mandates suspension of all social events, bans gatherings of 10 people or more -- 20 or more at workplaces, schools and hospitals – and a social distance of two meters in public.

Directive 16 bans people from leaving home except for buying food or medicines or working where allowed.

In areas under Directive 16, those who have recovered from Covid-19 as well as fully vaccinated people under 65 without underlying conditions can participate in activities in public spaces like going to the supermarket, hospitals and clinics, attend schools and to work.

Typhoon Conson to change course, head toward Vietnam’s central coast

Typhoon Conson, which is churning across Vietnam’s Hoang Sa archipelago, in the Bien Dong Sea, is forecast to divert its track and head toward the central coast of Vietnam in coming days.

Conson was swirling around the southern part of the Hoang Sa archipelago at 01.00 p.m. on September 10, with winds gusting up to 100kph near its eye, reported the National Centre for Hydro Meteorological Forecasting.

Conson is forecast to make landfall on September 13 evening. Photo: VOV

In the next 24 hours, the typhoon is anticipated to move to the west at a speed of approximately 10kph and gain its strength.

It will then move slowly and change its course to west and north-west to head toward the central coast of Vietnam.

On September 13 evening, Conson is likely to intensify before bartering central coastal provinces from Thua Thien-Hue to Da Nang, according to VOV.

National weather forecasters say Conson will dump heavy rain on coastal provinces stretching from Thanh Hoa to Quang Binh that may receive 100-200mm of rainfall.

Rainfall totals may also climb as high as 350mm in some localities in Quang Binh and Ha Tinh provinces.

Weather experts also ruled out the possibility of interaction between Conson and super typhoon Chanthu which is moving toward Taiwan (China), not the Bien Dong Sea.

Vietnam approves Covid vaccine from UAE

The Health Ministry has approved a Covid-19 vaccine manufactured in China and packaged in the UAE on Friday.

The Hayat-Vax vaccine, manufactured by China’s Beijing Institute of Biological Products Co., Ltd and packaged at Gulf Pharmaceutical Industries in the UAE, was approved following a proposal by Vietnamese pharmaceutical firm Vimedimex.

A woman receives a Covid-19 vaccine shot in HCMC's Thu Duc City, August 15, 2021. Photo: VnExpress

The vaccine was approved based on data regarding its safety, quality and effectiveness as submitted by Vimedimax as of Sept. 3.

Previously, the vaccine had been approved by UAE authorities in March, as it showed an efficacy of over 79 percent.

Each 0.5 ml dose is composed of 6.5U (4μg) of inactivated novel coronavirus antigens.

Vietnam has so far vaccinated over 24.7 million people with at least one Covid-19 vaccine shot. Over 4.1 million people have been fully inoculated, cited VnExpress.

The country aims to secure 150 million vaccine doses to immunize 70 percent of its 96 million population by next year.

PM agrees on pilot plan to welcome foreign tourists to Phu Quoc island

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has basically agreed with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's proposal on a pilot plan to welcome international tourists with vaccine passports to Phu Quoc resort island in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang for six months from October.

In a document issued on September 10, Deputy PM Vu Duc Dam asked the provincial People’s Committee to coordinate with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and relevant agencies to collect opinions from organizations, associations and businesses in order to develop and issue a specific plan for the implementation, VNA reported.

The Ministry of Health will work with the Ministry of Information and Communications, the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in guiding the issuance of certificates of vaccination against Covid-19, and distributing vaccines to swiftly inoculate people living and working in Phu Quoc island city.

The Ministries of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Health; Public Security; National Defense; Foreign Affairs; Transport; and Information and Communication and related agencies are requited to coordinate with, guide and support the provincial People's Committee in implementing the plan.

A corner of Phu Quoc island. Photo: VNA

According to a draft pilot scheme, the plan targets foreign tourists who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 or those with certificates of recovery from Covid-19 recognized by an authorized agency in Vietnam.

Eligible tourists should be given their second shots at least 14 days and no more than 12 months before their entry. For those who have recovered from Covid-19, the time from hospital discharge to their entry date must not exceed 12 months. Travelers will be requested for a RT-PCR test within 72 hours prior to their departure, and certified negative for COVID-19 in English by authorities of the country that conduct the test.

The scheme will be applied for visitors who have registered to join package tours of travel agencies.

General Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) Nguyen Trung Khanh said Phu Quoc needs to speed up the vaccination for its residents, and those that will directly involved in welcoming and serving holiday makers.

Attention should be paid to developing a specific plan for the pilot program related to medical regulations, immigration procedures, procedures to welcome and serve tourists at accommodation establishments, tourist attractions, and plans for handling medical incidents.

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