FV Hospital starts COVID-19 vaccination drive for French citizens, relatives in southern Vietnam

HCM City (VNA) – FV Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City on July 29 began to administer the first shots under a COVID-19 vaccination drive for 5,000 French citizens and their family members in southern Vietnam, while the hospital’s volunteer teams are joining the vaccination campaign in the community as assigned by the municipal Health Department.

It is estimated that FV Hospital will perform the vaccination for 800 people every day. In order to organise the effective vaccination for this number of patients from 8 am to 5 pm every day, FV Hospital has organised a vaccination model that is implemented in the France.

Appointments are arranged per group, the procedure for COVID-19 safe prevention and control is scientifically implemented. Patients arriving at the destination will make a health declaration, then will be screened by the nurse again to ensure upmost safety. In the waiting area, each person receives the patient education material on the vaccine, its effects, and possible reaction following injection. Once they fully understand it, and consent to treatment, they will receive the injection. Anyone with any concern can consult the doctor who is always present for on the spot for advice and clarification. There are three nurses in charge of each group of patients to be vaccinated. These nurses are trained in the steps of safe vaccination procedures with the Moderna vaccine. FV Hospital vaccination area is fully equipped with necessary emergency equipment to manage any case of serious reaction to the vaccination.


After the injection, people will wait for 30 minutes monitoring period. In case of no abnormality, they can go home. Before leaving, each person will be informed of the specific appointment schedule for the second dose. After the 2 doses are completed, they will receive a digital vaccination certificate via email with full information including, type of vaccine, date of injection for both doses. Making it easy to move to other countries the certificate is written in English, French and Vietnamese, with a unique QR code to avoid counterfeiting.

DrJean-Marcel Guillon, Chief Executive Officer of FV Hospital shared: “This is an opportunity for us to practice preparing for larger vaccination campaigns when FV Hospital is approved by the Government to actively participate in the Covid-19 Vaccination Campaign. With a cold storage system that has been inspected and certified by the Pasteur Institute of Ho Chi Minh City, we can store at the same time of 800,000 doses of Astra-Zeneca vaccine, 200,000 doses of Moderna vaccine, and 600,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine, along with a workforce of more than 100 nurses licensed with mobile vaccination certificate, FV Hospital can organise the vaccination for 10,000 people a day at FV Hospital and mobile injection sites. This means that if we work 7 days a week, we can do injections for about 250,000 people a month.”

Mr Vincent Floreani, Consul General of France in Ho Chi Minh City, was present at FV very early with a group of Consul General's staff who came to support French citizens. He shared: “I am very grateful to the Vietnamese Government for supporting us to be able to implement the vaccination program for the French community. We also appreciate the organisation of FV hospital from the phase of registration to vaccination. With its organisational capacity, facilities as well as a long-term connection with the French community, I believe FV can well execute large-scale vaccination programs like this.”




Expressing her joy after being vaccinated against Covid-19 at FV Hospital on the morning of July 29, Estelle Bolengiar and her family said: "I don't think my family had a chance to get vaccinated in Vietnam so soon, this is really a great effort of the French Consulate. I am also assured when this program is carried out at FV Hospital, the vaccination procedure is very well organised, fast and safe.”

And Mr DVH (Vietnamese overseas) excitedly said: "As far as I know, no Consulate General in Vietnam has organised a vaccination program for the community like this. I greatly appreciate the efforts of the government and the French Consulate.”

The first day of vaccination of the campaign went safely and there were no significant reactions after the injection. In accordance to manufacturer's instructions, people who have received the first dose will receive a second dose 4 weeks later.

This vaccination campaign starts at 8am on July 29. It is estimated that about 800 people will be injected every day. All patients received an electronic Covid-19 Vaccine Appointment Confirmation Form with the logo of the Consul General of France and a brief explanation of the vaccination campaign. Many of them live in areas or in buildings that are under lockdown and worry that they won't be able toleave to go to FV Hospital for vaccination.

Therefore, FV Hospital has requested the City People's Committee and the City Steering Committee to direct the epidemic prevention and control forces in the localities and at the epidemic prevention and control checkpoints to allow all French and Vietnamese citizens to enter the City. Vietnamese citizens carrying a COVID-19 Vaccine Appointment Confirmation Form are allowed to leave their residence and pass through checkpoints to travel to FV Hospital at No.6 Nguyen Luong Bang, Tan Phu ward, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City to receive their vaccination by appointment./.