A resident in south central Bình Định Province is vaccinated against COVID-19. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Military forces are ready to be on duty around the clock and mobilise helicopters to transport COVID-19 vaccines to islands and disadvantaged areas, according to Deputy Minister of Defence Vũ Hải Sản.

He was speaking at a meeting of the Steering Committee for the National COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign at the Ministry of National Defence earlier this week.

Minister of Health Nguyễn Thanh Long told the same meeting that it was necessary to ramp up the pace of vaccinations in the fastest and safest manner and said Việt Nam expected to receive many more doses later this year.

He said receiving, transporting and storing vaccines have been implemented resolutely by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the army. They established eight cold storages facilities to keep and preserve vaccines with a total capacity of 60 million doses.

He added that 63 trucks with cold storage capabilities have been delivered to army to transport vaccines to localities as scheduled.

Deputy minister Sản added that the Ministry of Defence has mobilised and trained staff and prepared vehicles to be ready to transport vaccines when needed.

The ministry would have transportation plans right after more doses of vaccines arrive in Việt Nam, he said.

More than 11.3 million doses had been administered in Việt Nam as of Wednesday morning, with over one million people given two jabs. — VNS