Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính at the meeting with representatives from ministries and agencies in Hanoi on November 27. VNA Photo

 HÀ NỘI – It is a must to produce COVID-19 vaccines and treatment drugs domestically, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính said at a meeting with representatives from ministries and agencies in Hà Nội on November 27.

He regarded the “5K principle”, vaccines, treatment drugs, technologies, public awareness and other solutions as crucial factors to safely and flexibly adapt to and effectively control the pandemic.

The “5K principle” was issued by the Ministry of Health, covering khẩu trang (facemask), khử khuẩn (disinfection), khoảng cách (distance), không tụ tập (no gathering), and khai báo y tế (health declaration).

PM Chính applauded the Ministry of Health and relevant ministries and agencies, especially scientists, researchers and producers of COVID-19 vaccines and treatment drugs for their efforts over the past time.

He called for closer coordination to remove difficulties in research as well as administrative and legal procedures, striving to produce COVID-19 vaccines and treatment drugs at home.

The nation’s interests, and the public’s health and life must be the top priority, the PM emphasised.

PM Chinh assigned the Ministry of Health to coordinate with other relevant ministries and agencies to review institutions to facilitate the process.

As of November 26, Việt Nam had administered more than 117.6 million doses of vaccines. More than 48.3 million citizens are now fully inoculated.

The country has engaged in technology transfer, research and trial of such vaccines as Nano Covax, COVIVAC, ARCT-154, HIPRA, Sputnik V, Shionogi and some vaccines of Cuba and India. Six factories have registered for COVID-19 treatment drug production. VNA/VNS