Hanoi(VNA) - The Preventive Medicine Department at the Ministry of Health (MoH) iscooperating with other ministry agencies to license COVID-19 vaccines and buildplans for distribution, together with monitoring and evaluating theeffectiveness of the vaccine, a health expert has said.

Addressing anonline meeting of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention andControl with representatives from the Hai Duong Provincial People’s Committeeon February 23, Tran Dac Phu, vice chairman of the advisory council for the grantingof drug and medicinal ingredient circulation certificates atthe MoH, affirmed that COVID-19 vaccinations will not be conducted on a massbasis prior to full inspections, to ensure that people areprovided the safest vaccine possible.

Experts said the AstraZeneca vaccine is being delivered to Vietnam and has been prequalified by theWorld Health Organisation (WHO). It can be used as soon as it is shipped toVietnam.

The MoH also saidthat it only buys safe, highly-protective vaccines pre-assessed by WHO, approvedby a stringent regulatory authority (SRA), and with a goodprice.

Phu also said that despitethe COVID-19 vaccine, people still need to strictly follow disease preventionand control measures, in particular wearing masks when outdoors.

The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirusis spread by droplets, so wearing a mask is always the most effective measureto prevent its spread, he explained.

The vaccination willnot immediately create immunity, he said, adding that it is also necessary to preventa new strain of the virus from appearing.

Members of the Steering Committee affirmed that the Government is directing theacceleration of the production of a domestic COVID-19 vaccine, while ensuringsafety and effectiveness.

Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen said the ministry is developing amaster plan for vaccinations.

With a plan to vaccinate millions of people in a short time, Tuyen saidresponding to and handling any complications that may occur after vaccinationis entirely within the capability of the health sector.

A list of thoseenjoying free vaccines will follow the principle of giving priority to frontline forces and pandemic-hit localities.

Regarding this issue, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, who is also headof the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, affirmedthat Vietnam is making every effort to quickly have a COVID-19 vaccine.

Vaccines, both sourced from abroad and produced domestically, will beprovided free, like the Quinvaxem vaccine in the national expandedimmunisation programme, in the time to come, he noted./.