Vietnam may launch vaccine passport project when it reaches community immunity: MoH official

Thứ Sáu, 07/05/2021, 14:22

Responding to a question on COVID-19 vaccine passports at the Government’s regular meeting, Vice Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan said the Prime Minister has ordered the Ministry of Health (MoH) to weigh on anti-pandemic measures to implement a vaccine passport project, which is under consideration in many countries.

Vice Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan.

The health official said it is widely argued that the vaccine passport can be effective only when community immunity is achieved through vaccination. However, there is insufficient evidence that current vaccines are effective at different strains of SARS-CoV-2.

Thuan affirmed that the MoH will coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies to study and propose the Government to launch the vaccine passport project at a suitable time. He affirmed safety for the people is considered top priority and no vaccines are 100% effective.

According to him, the vaccine passport project is effective when a country has had community immunity, which means 70% of the population is vaccinated.

The health official also highlighted the need to follow the MoH’s 5KCOVID-19 prevention rules: Khau trang (facemask), Khu khuan (disinfection), Khoang cach (distance), Khongtu tap (no gathering), Khai bao y te(health declaration), stating that these preventive measures are as important as vaccination.

By DT