HANOI: Vietnam has received a shipment of 500,000 Sinopharm vaccine doses donated by China, the health ministry said on Sunday, as the country is ramping up inoculations to battle against a more widespread outbreak. The nation approved China's Sinopharm vaccine for emergency use against Covid-19 in early June.

A brief handover ceremony was held at the Noi Bai International Airport here on Sunday, which was attended by Vietnam's Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long and Chinese Ambassador to Hanoi Xiong Bo, according to reports.  Vietnam pledges to quickly and safely administer the vaccines to those in need, Long said.  "I believe this batch of vaccines will help both Vietnam's epidemic prevention and control and its socio-economic development." Xiong’s statement reads.

The handover of the vaccine came after Vietnam's Ministry of Health announced the approval of the jab for emergency use in the country on June 4.The country has so far registered a total of 12,978 Covid-19 cases, including 9,943 detected since the start of the latest outbreak, according to the Ministry of Health.

Panic grips Mexico border city after violence, Coercion leaves 18 dead

European Union hails progress on talks with Iran to restore nuclear deal

US preparing new Russia sanctions over near-fatal poisoning of Navalny