Vietnam Records 13,321 New COVID-19 Cases; Vaccine Rollout Strengthened

Considering the availability of vaccine supply, Vietnam’s Ministry of Health authorized combining Moderna and Pfizer-BionNTech vaccines — which means if you received Moderna for your first shot, you can be administered with Pfizer-BioNTech for your second dose and vice versa.

The MoH added that the demand for COVID-19 vaccines has been rising as all provinces and cities are doing their best to boost their inoculation campaigns.

“To ensure all residents receive their second doses after a set period of time, a mixed regimen is now permitted to be applied in case of a vaccine supply shortage,” MoH told the local media.

At the same time, those who received the AstraZeneca vaccine for their first shot can receive either Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines for their second.

“Due to the general shortage of vaccines, many countries have approved mixed regimens for vaccines produced with the same or different technologies, such as combining viral vector vaccines with mRNA jabs, or mixing two mRNA vaccines produced by different manufacturers,” the MoH said.

In case of any complications, those who agree to receive the mixed regimen must be closely monitored.

On Friday, MoH also gave conditional approval for use in emergencies for Hayat-Vax, UAE-made COVID-19 vaccine. So far, the seventh vaccine brand authorized in the country.

According to the document signed by Deputy Health Minister Trương Quốc Cường, the vaccine is produced by Beijing Bio-Institute of Biological Products Co. Ltd., subsidiary of China National Biotec Group, similar to Sinopharm vaccines.

However, Hayat-Vax is packaged by Julphar Gulf Pharmaceutical Industries in the UAE under an agreement between Abu Dhabi's G42 and Sinopharm.

The final vaccine product in each 0.5 ml dose is composed of 6.5U (4μg) of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 antigens and aluminium hydroxide adjuvant in phosphate-buffered saline.

Each vial contains a single dose for intramuscular administration.

Today’s COVID-19 cases

Vietnam’s MoH reported 13,321 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, 15 of which were imported. The country’s national patient tally is now at 585,052 with Ho Chi Minh City still leading with 7,539, followed by Binh Duong with 3,563.

Other cases were detected in Dong Nai (823), Long An (321), Tay Ninh (248), Tien Giang (156), Kien Giang (86), Binh Phuoc (58), Dong Tower (58), Quang Binh (48), Quang Ngai (45), Can Tho (37), Khanh Hoa (34), Binh Thuan (34), Da Nang (30), Hanoi (29), Bac Lieu ( 26), Dak Lak (26), An Giang (19), Dak Nong (17), Quang Nam (16), Nghe An (16), Binh Dinh (15), Phu Yen (13), Ba Ria - Vung Tau (11), Thua Thien Hue (8 ), Ben Tre (6), Lam Dong (5), Thanh Hoa (5), Vinh Long (3), Ninh Thuan (3), Son La (3), Tra Vinh ( 2), Gia Lai (2), Hung Yen (1), including 8,680 cases in the community.

MoH also confirmed additional 275 fatalities, raising the death toll to 14,745.

Thu Dau Mot City in Binh Duong lifts restrictions

On a positive note, the second worst-hit locality after HCMC, Binh Duong province has lifted the COVID-19 restrictions in Thu Dau Mot city but only those who have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine are allowed to travel within the city. Senior citizens and people with underlying medical conditions as well as children are still prohibited from leaving their homes.

In addition to that, people living in high-risk areas like the cities of Thuan An and Di An including the town of Ben Cat are not permitted to enter Thu Dau Mot.

Binh Duong’s provincial People’s Committee has called on its Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control to allow some essential services to resume. It wants traditional markets and supermarkets to reopen.

However, since the province has been under Directive 16 since July, the provincial government must come up with concrete plans to ensure pandemic prevention and of course, get approval from competent authorities.

So far, Binh Duong has already recorded 149,859 COVID infections and 1,305 deaths since April 27. The province has vaccinated 1.2 million of its people, with more than 46,000 now fully vaccinated.