Finished Covivac vaccine researched and produced by the Nha Trang-based Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals (IVAC). (Photo: VNA)

Experts said developing vaccines is a decisive and long-term strategy in disease prevention and control in general and in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in particular.

The development of vaccines must be included in the overall strategy of research, technology transfer, and production of vaccines to both proactively preventing and controlling the pandemic, and saving the State budget, they noted.

In the strategy, it is necessary to perform synchronously research and transfer of domestic vaccine production technologies, and implement effectively and safely the vaccination campaign.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit Vietnam, the Politburo, the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat, the Government and the Prime Minister directed the Ministry of Science and Technology to coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors in researching, transferring technology and domestically producing vaccines, especially COVID-19 vaccines.

The ministry has worked with relevant agencies and scientists to perform the task as soon as possible with the spirit of “fighting the pandemic is like fighting the enemy”.

Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat stressed that amidst complicated developments of the pandemic, it is necessary to prioritise mechanisms and policies supporting vaccine research and production, and application of science and technology in health care, thus contributing to developing the pharmaceutical industry.

The development of the pharmaceutical industry will serve as a foundation for vaccine development, meeting requirements of taking care of and protecting the public’s health, and saving the State budget, he stressed.

According to the minister, the Ministry of Science and Technology has proposed preferential policies and mechanisms for vaccine research, transfer of COVID-19 vaccine production technology and easier mechanisms for research and application of science and technology in the health sector.

It has also coordinated with the Ministry of Health in building a centre for researching, transferring vaccine production technology, and a centre for preclinical and clinical trials.

Attention has been also paid to promoting the application of science and technology in manufacturing Vibot robots to serve transportation in high-risk quarantine areas.

Source: VNA

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