Ministry issues guidance on second dose of COVID vaccine
People who have had a first vaccine dose of Pfizer or AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine can receive Moderna for the second dose, as vaccine sources are limited, according to the latest guidance from the Ministry of Health issued on December 12.
A medical worker gives a COVID-19 vaccine shot to a resident in Dong Son ward, Thanh Hoa city, the central province of Thanh Hoa. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - People who have had a first vaccine dose of Pfizer orAstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine can receive Moderna for the second dose, asvaccine sources are limited, according to the latest guidance from the Ministryof Health issued on December 12.
The urgentguidance was sent to provincial and municipal departments of health andother organisations.
Ata meeting on September 8 of the ministry's advisory council on vaccines,the council recommended that if a type of vaccine was no longer in productionor available in time, a different booster vaccine could be used.
If the firstdose is AstraZeneca, the second dose can be Pfizer or Moderna, and viceversa.
Based on thecouncil’s recommendation, the ministry said that people should have the samefirst and second dose of the vaccine. But in the case of limited vaccineresources, people who have received the first dose of Pfizer orAstraZeneca can have the second dose with Moderna.
The intervalbetween the two doses is based on the ministry's guidance issued onSeptember 20 this year.
Thenational immunisation project under the National Institute of Hygiene andEpidemiology supports and monitors problems after vaccinations.
Theministry has requested local departments of health to have suitablevaccination plans and conduct them safely and punctually. It will continue tokeep a close watch, update information and give more directions if necessary./.
Ho Chi Minh City on December 10 started administering additional and booster shots of COVID-19 vaccines to high-risk groups and frontline forces, including medical workers, police and army officers and those who are immunocompromised.
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Despite the ongoing global circulation and unpredictable developments of SARS-CoV-2, the World Health Organisation (WHO) hasn’t issued new warnings about COVID-19, said the Ministry of Health.
A medical worker gives a COVID-19 vaccine shot to a resident in Dong Son ward, Thanh Hoa city, the central province of Thanh Hoa. (Photo: VNA) 
