Vietnam to ensure “safety first” with “COVID-19 vaccine passport” scheme

Standing members of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control have discussed the preparation of technical and policy solutions to implement the “COVID-19 vaccine passport” scheme while ensuring the principle of “safety first”.
Vietnam to ensure “safety first” with “COVID-19 vaccine passport” scheme ảnh 1Standing members of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control discuss the “COVID-19 vaccine passport” scheme (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) - Standing members of the NationalSteering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control have discussed the preparationof technical and policy solutions to implement the “COVID-19 vaccine passport” schemewhile ensuring the principle of “safety first”.

Addressing the March 19 meeting, Deputy Director of the Medical Solution Centerat the Viettel Business Solutions Corporation LuuThe Anh, said Viettel is closely coordinating with the Ministry of Health and relatedministries and sectors to review and carry out the “COVID-19 vaccine passport”scheme.

Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long said that from the perspective of the healthsector, the “COVID-19 vaccine passport” is essentially a certificate confirmingthe holder has had two shots of COVID-19 vaccine, regulated in line with the Law on the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases and internationalhealth quarantine regulations. Passport holders will not be quarantined and testedfor COVID-19, but some other countries still require testing.

Vietnam is working with countries around the world on the acceptance of the passportthrough QR codes.

Vietnam to ensure “safety first” with “COVID-19 vaccine passport” scheme ảnh 2Deputy Prime Minister and Head of  the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control Vu Duc Dam speaks at the meeting (Photo: VNA)

To get the “COVID-19 vaccine passport”, people will provide their personalinformation when receiving a vaccination, which is checked on a validation system.After two injections, the relevant information is confirmed by a QR code. When goingabroad, people’s information will be verified when scanning the QR code.

The Ministry of Health and Viettel are piloting the passport scheme atCOVID-19 vaccination centres, to evaluate the capacity and compatibility ofthese facilities.

Meanwhile, relevant technical infrastructure to receive foreign visitors withCOVID-19 vaccine passport is expected to be completed and ready for use from April.

The Ministry of Health continues to work with foreign health agencies toshortly participate in a joint effort of the international community to facilitatetrade activities and travel for those who have been vaccinated.

According to the ministry, as of11am on March 19, nearly 122 million COVID-19 infections had been reported worldwide,with more than 2.69 million fatalities in 221 countries and territories./.
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