Vietnam is speeding up COVID-19 vaccinations, hoping to achieve herd immunity in early 2022.

The southern province of Long An is the first locality in the country that has completed giving the second dose to 100% of its people aged 18 and above. It is followed by Khanh Hoa with 96%. More than 80% of people aged 18 and above have received their second shot in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Meanwhile, 14 cities and provinces have completed vaccinating their adults with the first shot. Only Son La province in the north has the lowest vaccination coverage at nearly 48%.

The Ministry of Health has approved nine COVID-19 vaccines for emergency use in Vietnam. They are Astra Zeneca, Moderna, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, Vero Cell, Hayat-Vax, Abdala, SputnikV, and Covaxin. However, the commonly used vaccines are Astra Zeneca, Moderna, Pfizer, and Vero Cell.

Vietnam has reached agreements and contracts to secure nearly 200 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from different sources. It has so far received approximately 125 million doses. The Ministry of Health plans to inoculate people with a booster shot later this year and next year.

Source: VOV