Southern Vietnam, Central Highlands set to vaccinate all adults

The Government Office, announcing this on Sunday, also said the ministry must ensure there's enough vaccine doses in the two regions to provide the second doses as scheduled and the first doses to children aged 12-17.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam said it must also ensure there is enough supply of drugs to treat severe Covid-19 cases and prevent deaths.

On November 3 the National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control called on the ministry to ensure there are enough vaccine doses for the Mekong Delta following the emergence of outbreaks in places like Bac Lieu, Soc Trang and Kien Giang provinces and Can Tho City.

Vietnam has agreements and contracts for the supply of 195 million vaccine doses, Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long said. Of those, 124 million doses have already arrived.

95 percent of adults in 19 southern localities have received at least one shot, and over 50 percent are fully vaccinated.

In the country, 60.8 million people have got at least one dose, with 28.8 million getting two.