HCMC – Vietnam is expecting to get nearly 90% of people 18 and older fully vaccinated by the end of 2021.

As of December 24, Vietnam had administered some 144 million doses of Covid vaccines, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Truong Son told a meeting on the International Day of Epidemic Preparedness today, December 27. Vietnam has so far taken delivery of over 166 million doses. The country has achieved a full vaccination rate of 66%, above the goal set by the World Health Organization at 40%, he said. With this progress of vaccination in Vietnam, 90% of the adult population will have a full vaccination status in the coming days, Son said, adding that the health authority is speeding up the inoculation of children 12 and older. In addition, to increase protection for fully vaccinated adults, especially those aged over 50 and those with weakened immune systems, the Ministry of Health has asked provinces and cities to give them booster shots before the end of the first quarter of 2022. As the Covid pandemic still spreads, the Ministry of Health has told the provincial and municipal authorities to keep a close watch and promptly detect cases of the new Omicron coronavirus variant. Residents should strictly follow Covid safety protocols to prevent the spread of the disease, the local media reported. Apart from making a list of people in high-risk groups and closely monitoring their health, the local health authorities should improve the treatment capacity to reduce Covid deaths.