An elderly person with underlying conditions in HCM City's Phú Nhuận District gets vaccinated at District 11's Healthcare Centre. VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Vũ

HÀ NỘI – Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính has assigned the Minister of Health to encourage localities and organisations to procure vaccines against COVID-19.

The move came after the People's Committee of southern Đồng Nai Province, which is currently hit hard by the pandemic, sent a document seeking the PM’s permission for Donacoop Company to import vaccines from Pfizer.

The Ministry of Health is tasked with managing the licensing, quality control and preservation of vaccines, and offering free injections for people.

The ministry has coordinated with all ministries and sectors and encouraged all localities, businesses and units to participate in the search for and import of COVID-19 vaccines to administer quickly.

The Health Ministry will create the best conditions for all localities, units and businesses in the process of importing, licensing and accreditation of vaccines. In case the manufacturer requests exemption from liability, the ministry will be responsible for reporting to the Government and it will be the Government agency to implement the requirement.

In case enterprises are unable to vaccinate people, the ministry will direct the State vaccination system to conduct the inoculations.

It will minimise the processing time of administrative procedures, but still ensure the quality of vaccines and vaccine safety, and prevent counterfeiting of vaccines. VNS