Viet Nam may receive 1.3 million COVID-19 vaccine doses in the first quarter this year, according to Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long.

Of the above figure, 117,600 doses arrived in the Southeast Asian country on February 24 and the rest is expected in March.

Health workers are the first to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Other priority groups include military and public security forces and those who work at concentrated quarantine sites.

Viet Nam will receive 9.5 million doses in the second quarter, 25.9 million doses and 51.1 million doses in the following quarters, Long added.

The imported vaccines are sourced from COVAX Facility, the UK (AstraZeneca), the U.S. (Pfizer), and Russia (Sputnik V).

A part from external sources, Viet Nam is also stepping up homegrown vaccine research and production, with Nano Covax planned to enter the second phase of human trials on February 26.

Nano Covax has been developed by the Nanogen Pharmaceutical Biotechnology JSC, one of the four local vaccine producers in Viet Nam. Other manufacturers are the Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals (IVAC), the Company for Vaccine and Biological Production No. 1 (VABIOTECH), the Nanogen Pharmaceutical Biotechnology JSC (NANOGEN), and the Centre for Immunization Vaccines (POLYVAC).

Viet Nam confirmed 2,412 COVID-19 patients, including 1,790 recovered cases as of 6:05 pm on Wednesday.

Among the national tally, 820 have been documented since January 27, 2021 in 13 cities and provinces, namely Hai Duong (627), Quang Ninh (61), Ho Chi Minh City (36), Ha Noi (35), Gia Lai (27), Binh Duong (six), Bac Ninh (five), Hai Phong (four), Dien Bien (three), Hoa Binh (two), Bac Giang (two), Hung Yen (two), Ha Giang (one)./.