ECONOMYNEXT – Vietnam Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, who heads the country’s anti-Coronavirus task force has volunteered for human trials of Nanocovax, a Covid-19 vaccine developed by a domestic biotechnology firm.
The anti-Covid Czar felt “absolutely normal” after receiving the jab as part of the second phase human trials that began in February, Vietnam’s government news portal said.
Vietnam’s Nanocovax is being developed by Nanogen Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Joint Stock Corporation.
Prime Minister Dam heads the National Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, which has just killed the fourth outbreak of Coronavirus which infected two factories after escaping from an airport near a quarantine centre.
Vietnam is one of the fastest growing economies in the world and is expected to grow 7 percent in 2021 according to Fitch Ratings which has just upgraded the outlook on its sovereign rating.
Under strict Coronavirus controls the country is operating normally but without tourism.
Vietnam has avoided heedless Keynesian or MMT monetary or fiscal stimulus, but has given targeted help to business and individuals in difficulties.
The Vietnam dong has been held at 23,000 to the US dollar for over 10 years defying IMF pressure to have a non-credible ‘flexible’ exchange giving a strong foundation for stability and growth.
Prime Minister Dam said he was unable to say when the vaccine will be approved for use in the general population but is sourcing vaccines from multiple sources.
JABBED: Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam getting a Nanocovax jab on February 26, in this government released picture.
On February 24, Viet Nam received the first batch of 117,600 COVID-19 vaccine doses which was used on frontline health staff and quarantine workers.
A batch of 811,200 doses of Astra Zeneca vaccines from the Covax facility had come to Ha Noi. (Colombo/Apr02/2021)