Health Ministry, localities must be held accountable for vaccine rollout: PM

speaks at the meeting. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh
Chinh on December 16 emphasised the responsibility of the
and localities in the COVID-19 .

If there is a shortage of vaccines, the Ministry of Health
must bear the responsibility, while leaders of localities must be
held accountable for achieving vaccination targets, said PM Chinh, who is also head
of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, at
an online meeting with representatives from 63 cities and provinces.

He reiterated the target of completing the inoculation of the second dose
for people who are 18 years and older by December 31, 2021, and for those aged
from 12 to 18 years by the end of January 2022.

Regarding the inoculation for children above five years old, PM Chinh
said it needs more consultancy from competent agencies.

At the same time, measures to safely and flexibly
adapt to and effectively control the pandemic and recover and boost the
national economy should be maintained, along with implementing other pandemic prevention and
control regulations.

However, such measures and regulations should be implemented
flexibly, matching the latest developments of the pandemic, he noted.

PM Chinh demanded due attention paid to pandemic prevention and
control in major cities and areas where many industrial parks are located, and
tightened the handling of violations.   

The leader also requested improving the capacity of
medical facilities at the grassroots level so that people can access services
early and from afar.  

Ministries and agencies need to step up administrative
reforms to accelerate the production and supply of treatment drugs and
mobilise human resources for the pandemic combat, he said.

The PM assigned the Ministry of Health and the
Ministry of Transport to coordinate with other relevant ministries and agencies
in piloting the resumption of international commercial flights.

Meanwhile, localities should coordinate with
businesses in pandemic response and create optimal conditions for them to
maintain operations, he said./.