Vietnam May Access COVID-19 Vaccine No Sooner than H2/2021: Official

Vietnam can access coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine no sooner than the second half of 2021, Acting Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long has said. The minister asked agencies and localities to be cautious over the possible new outbreaks from now to the time when locals can access COVID-19 vaccine. Mr. Long also asked local authorities to review scenarios to be active in coping the possible new outbreaks, aiming to prevent the imposition of lockdowns at hospitals. So far, Vietnam has registered to buy COVID-19 vaccines of Russia and the U.K. and also strived to develop its own vaccine. Two among four home-grown COVID-19 vaccines have been ready to enter the clinical tests on humans. (Dan Sinh, Bao Dan Sinh)