As one of the country’s largest COVID-19 hotspots, Ho Chi Minh City has proposed purchasing COVID-19 vaccines for its citizens through its own budget and other financial sources, according to Nguyen Thanh Phong, chairman of the city People's Committee, on June 1.
During a meeting with a working delegation from the government led by Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh, Phong said if the proposal is given approval, then the city will seek other financial sources to pay for its own COVID-19 vaccine doses.
The city is now waiting for approval from both the Government and the Ministry of Health, said Phong.
HCM City is home to 7.2 million people over the age of 18, whilst vaccines from central sources are only sufficient to cover to 1.6 million people.
In response, Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long and Deputy PM Binh agreed in principle with the proposal, adding that once the southern city finds suitable COVID-19 vaccine sources they will send relevant forces in order to carry out the inoculation process.
The proposal of the vaccination plan comes after the city enforced social distancing measures for at least two weeks, starting on June 1.