Hanoi, (VNA) – Vietnam continues seeking and diversifying its COVID-19 vaccine sources by working with nations such as the US, India and China, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman LeThi Thu Hang said at a regular press conference held on March 25.

According to her, the work aims at increasing the rate of vaccinecoverage among Vietnamese people.

Apart from imported vaccines, Vietnam is promoting theresearch and development of domestically produced vaccines, which are expectedto put in use as early as 2022 to ensure the country’s supply, healthsecurity and response to the pandemic.

Currently, two Vietnamese candidate vaccines are under humantrials in line with the Ministry of Health’s related process and regulations.

On February 26, the Government issued Resolution No 21/NQ-CPregarding COVID-19 vaccine purchase and use. It identifies nine priority groups in the COVID-19 vaccination plan, including peopleat the frontline of the fight against the epidemic; Vietnamese diplomats sent to foreign countries; customs personnel; teachers and others working ateducational facilities; and people working at administrative agencies withregular contacts with a large number of people.

Hang also cited data from the National Expanded Programme onImmunisation, which showed that as of March 21, over 35,000 Vietnamese had been vaccinated against COVID-19./.