Covivac, the second locally-produced coronavirus vaccine, is researched and produced
by the Nha Trang-based Institute of Vaccines and Biological Medical (IVAC). (Photo: Ministry of Health)
Covivac is set to become the second vaccine which has been both produced and clinically tested in Vietnam.
Dr. Duong Huu Thai, director of IVAC, told local media that Covivac has so far been tested on animals, including mice and rabbits, with the results showing that the vaccine has successfully created a high level of immunity among animals.
With the vaccine being evaluated for its safety and protective immunity in animals, IVAC have requested that the Ministry of Health give permission to start human clinical testing, scheduled for late January, said Dr. Thai.
According to Dr. Thai, IVAC initially started conducting Covivac vaccine research in May 2020, with the aim of producing the vaccine and completing a three-phase clinical trial over the course of 18 months.
Recent months has seen IVAC scientists establish a similar manufacturing process for seasonal flu vaccines, as they use the chicken whole embryo culture technology in order to carry out the production process for their COVID-19 vaccine in a similar manner to that of the A/H5N1 influenza vaccine.
During research, strain NDV-LaSota-S was used as a vector of S protein expression of SARS-CoV-2. This is a low virulence strain that is used in many vaccines.
Gov't issues resolutions to develop socio-economy, improve business climate
The Government is determined to take drastic measures to realise the socio-economic development plan, better business climate, as well as improve national competitive capacity in 2021 through the issuance of Resolution No.01/NQ-CP and Resolution 02/NQ-CP.
A press conference is held on January 4 to announce two resolutions for realising the socio-economic development plan,
bettering business climate, as well as improving national competitive capacity in 2021. (Photo: VNA)
The resolutions were announced at a press conference chaired by Minister, Chairman of the Office of the Government Mai Tien Dung on January 4, reported VNA.
Resolution No.01 held that despite challenges and negative impacts brought by the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters, Vietnam attained impressive and comprehensive achievements in various sectors, and successfully realized the “dual goals” of controlling the pandemic and recovering socio-economic growth. The results were achieved thanks to the dogged determination of the Government and concerted efforts by ministries, sectors, all people and businesses under the leadership of the Party.
In a bid to realise the socio-economic development plan for 2021-2025, the Government has identified “solidarity, discipline, innovation, aspiration for development” as guidelines for actions in 2021.
The Government defined 11 key missions and measures, including effective implementation of tasks to serve the organisation of the Party Congress, election of deputies to the National Assembly and all-level People’s Councils, and preparation, issuance and implementation of action programmes to carry out the Party and National Assembly’s resolutions.
According to the Resolution, the Government will continue implementation of its “dual tasks” in a flexible and effective manner; complete institutions for the socialist-oriented market economy, thus facilitating economic recovery and development based on stabilising the macro-economy and curbing inflation rate; and improve the economy’s resilience.
This year, the Government will push ahead with economic restructuring in tandem with renewal of growth model, better the economy’s competitive capacity on the back of science-technology and innovation. Besides, it is to mobilise resources effectively, accelerate planning process, develop the sea-based economy, while enhancing regional linkages, promoting the role of key economic zones and large urban areas, and continue with new-style rural area building.
The Resolution makes a point of improving human resources quality in tandem with promoting innovation and application of science and technology, developing culture and society, promoting social fairness, protecting the environment, and making positive response to climate change and natural disasters.
Due attention will be also given to administrative procedure reform, state management efficiency, quality of officials and civil servants, building of a facilitting administrative system with drastic actions to serve the people, and the fight against corruption.
Additionally, consolidating defence-security, maintaining social order, improving foreign affairs work and international integration, among others, are seen as important tasks of the Government.
Under Resolution No.02/NQ-CP, the government requests ministries, municipal and provincial People’s Committees and other governmental agencies to drastically, comprehensively and effectively enforce main tasks and solutions to enhance Vietnam’s business environment and national competitiveness in 2021.
The government orders priority be given to improving a number of indexes and indicators regarding construction permit issuance, asset registration, settlement of contract disputes, bankruptcy of enterprises, land administrative management quality, application of information technology, quality of vocational training, students’ skills, patent granting, fight against corruption, online transactions, job opportunity in knowledge-intensive sectors, and sustainable ecosystem.
Ministries, municipal and provincial People’s Committees and other governmental agencies must sharpen their focus on removing barriers hindering the effectiveness of coordination among them by clearly and transparently assigning rights and responsibilities of each unit. They must also quickly address issues caused by unclear and overlapping regulations in investment and management of land, environment, and natural resources.
Resolution No.02/NQ-CP underlines the tasks and solutions for the national digital transformation programme by 2025 with a vision towards 2030 approved under the government’s Decision No.749/QD-TTg dated June 3, 2020, which must go in line with public administrative reforms.
The resolution emphasizes solutions to improve the country’s preparedness for new production in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
It also requires attention on delivering level-3 and -4 online public administrative services, particularly in healthcare, education, and social welfare; accelerating cashless payment and developing e-commerce; applying information technology to make public procedures more transparent; engaging enterprises and people in government building; promoting shared database for state governance; and developing and implementing the programme on supporting enterprises’ digital transformation from 2021 – 2025.
Additionally, ministries, municipal and provincial People’s Committees and other governmental agencies are asked to chalk out specific goals and roadmaps for the implementation of strategies and long- and medium-term plans in environmental protection, multidimensional poverty reduction, and development of mountainous and remote regions. They, at the same time, must strengthen awareness campaigns to educate society, especially the business community, on the importance of sustainable development.
The resolution also affirms to continue supporting COVID-19-hit firms and people to recover and address impacts of the pandemic.
First trading session of Vietnamese stock market in 2021 opens
The first trading session of Vietnam’s stock market in 2021 opened on January 4, with a gong-beating ceremony held by the State Securities Commission and the Hanoi Stock Exchange (HNX).
The first trading session of Vietnam’s stock market in 2021 opens on January 4 with a gong-beating ceremony.
(Photo: VNA)
Addressing the ceremony, Minister of Finance Dinh Tien Dung said macro-economic stability along with the Securities Law and pragmatic measures undertaken by the Government will facilitate the development of the domestic stock exchange in 2021 in terms of both scale and quality, and affirm its role as an effective capital mobilisation channel for the national economy in the year, reported VNA.
The 13th National Party Congress, to take place from January 25 to February 2, will create a firm foundation for the national economy, he said, adding that major economic decisions and policies of the Party and the State will create impacts on the economy in general and the stock market in particular.
In addition, the enforcement of the revised Law on Investment, the Law on Enterprises and the Securities Law will lay the new legal foundation for the market, and promoted transparency and sustainable development of market players, Dung said.
The minister urged the State Securities Commission and relevant agencies to focus their effort on implementing major targets and tasks set for 2021, first of all completing institutions and mechanisms exclusively for the market by drafting documents guiding the implementation of the revised Securities Law and submitting them to the Government for promulgation.
He ordered speeding up the restructuring of the stock and insurance markets, covering the apparatus rearrangement of the HNX and the HCM Stock Exchange (HSX).
The sector must ensure safe and stable transactions, the minister requested, stressing information-technology applications in the two major stock exchanges, and the Vietnam Securities Depository.
The State Securities Commission and relevant units should take solutions to push ahead with equitisation of State-owned enterprises and State capital divestment, increase the market scale and liquidity, and introduce new products in the year.
The minister said it is necessary to improve the efficiency of market management and supervision, saying any violations must be strictly handled to protect rights and interests of investors.
In the face of COVID-19, the finance ministry has adopted an array of solutions to stablise and develop the domestic market such as cutting fees for investors and promoting market attractiveness, thus helping to maintain the development and scale of the market./.