Experts discuss at the online conference. — Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Health

HÀ NỘI — Minister of Health Nguyễn Thanh Long on Friday morning had a virtual meeting with Johnson & Johnson officials to discuss importing the firm's COVID-19 vaccine to Việt Nam.

The two sides negotiated on the supply of Johnson & Johnson's vaccines and possibility of the firm's transfer of vaccine production technology to Việt Nam.

Minister Long said Việt Nam hoped to access vaccines at the earliest time possible to serve the vaccination needs of the people.

He also said that the country also wished to work with Johnson & Johnson on transferring technology to set up a vaccine factory in Việt Nam.

Many large Vietnamese corporations want to participate in the global vaccine supply chain and Việt Nam is one of more than 40 countries that can produce vaccines, so the vaccine production experience of Vietnamese factories is guaranteed. Việt Nam's National Regulatory Authority has also been certified by the World Health Organization (WHO), so the country was very eager to specialise in vaccines technology transfer, said Long.

A representative of Johnson & Johnson said they highly appreciated Việt Nam's effective pandemic prevention and control work.

After working with the Ministry of Health, Johnson & Johnson will make every effort to deploy all solutions to speed up the supply of Johnson & Johnson's vaccine, so Việt Nam can have the vaccine at the earliest time possible, the representative said.

The firm’s representative also said that it already had plans to submit an application for the registration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in Việt Nam.

The firm representative said it would also review transferring vaccine production technology to Việt Nam.

WHO has approved Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use back in March, the first to be listed by WHO as a single dose regimen, which should facilitate vaccination logistics in all countries, according to the organisation's statement.— VNS