Vietnam brings in new corona virus curbs in business hub
Vietnam aims to vaccinate 50 per cent of people aged 18 or older by the end of this year and 70 per cent by the end of March next year, the health ministry said on Friday (Jul 8), as tighter corona virus curbs were imposed in more cities including the country's commercial hub.
After successfully containing the virus for much of the pandemic, Vietnam has since late April faced a more stubborn outbreak that has prompted calls for the government to accelerate its vaccination program. Vietnam on Friday began movement restrictions in its business powerhouse Ho Chi Minh City after imposing new curbs in the capital Hanoi after the country's daily infection rates hit record highs above 1,000 four times this month.
Earlier this week, panic buying broke out in Ho Chi Minh City ahead of the new curbs and state media reports on Friday showed photographs of empty streets in the city of 9 million people. "Vaccination against COVID-19 is a necessary and important measure to contain the disease and ensure socio-economic development," the health ministry said in a statement.
The government's latest targets come after it had previously said it aimed to vaccinate 70 per cent to 75 per cent of the country's 98 million population by the end of this year or early next year. The ministry said on Friday it has clinched deals and commitments for 105 million corona virus vaccine doses, which is lower than the 150 million figures it had stated previously.
Vietnam has so far received around 6 million vaccine doses, mostly under the COVAX sharing facility. Nearly 4 million doses have been administered and only around 250,000 people have been fully vaccinated with two shots.The country has recorded 24,810 infections overall and 104 deaths, according to the health ministry.
