Earlier, the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology proposed the General Department of Vietnam Customs to allow the shipment of AstraZeneca vaccines provided by the Governments of Slovakia, Poland and Hungary to preserve the status quo at the GSP-certified vaccine warehouse of the National Immunization Program while pending approval from the Ministry of Health.

The National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology committed to preserving the status quo and submitting additional import permits within 30 working days to complete procedures for customs clearance.

The GDVC has assigned Ha Noi Customs Department to allow the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology to bring the shipment for storage at the GSP-certified vaccine warehouse of the National Immunization Program.

The GDVC has asked the department to request the customs declarant to comply with requirements on vaccine preservation and submit the Permit for import issued by the Ministry of Health and other documents of customs dossier within 30 days for customs clearance.

The GDVC has implemented many solutions to quickly clear imported goods that are medical supplies and equipment, medicine, vaccines and medical biological products for pandemic prevention and control.

The country’s top customs agency has guided local customs department to create favorable conditions and quickly clear shipments of medical supplies and equipment, medicine, vaccines and medical biological products, donated goods, foreign aid or goods imported by individuals or organizations for disease prevention and control.

The GDVC asks local customs department to allow the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology to bring shipments that require storage temperatures from 20C-80C for physical inspection at the storage site.

Customs branches at airports are required to quickly clear shipments of imported vaccines and allow shipments that have not yet been submitted sufficient documents in customs dossier, to be released or brought into warehouses for preservation.

The local customs branches are required to accept the test sheet of medicine and medicinal ingredients with the e-signature of the manufacturer when carrying out customs procedures.