(VOVWORLD) - A modified version of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine capable of fighting the coronavirus variant first documented in South Africa could be ready by the end of 2021, an AstraZeneca official said Sunday.

(VOVWORLD) - Ho Chi Minh City on Monday began the second phase of the COVID-19 vaccination for medical workers and those who have contacts with people entering Vietnam via Tan Son Nhat International Airport.

(VOVWORLD) - Hundreds of passengers from Australia began arriving in New Zealand airports on Monday after authorities reopened borders, a pandemic milestone that allows quarantine-free travel between the countries for the first time in over a year.

(VOVWORLD) - Vietnam confirmed 7 imported cases of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the national infection count to 2,791, according to the Ministry of Health.

(VOVWORLD) - Vietnam confirmed 3 more imported cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, bringing the national tally to 2,784.

(VOVWORLD) - Central Quang Nam province may become the fist locality in Vietnam to pilot vaccine passports, digital proof of coronavirus vaccination, as the country seeks to reopen to foreign travelers.

(VOVWORLD) - The Health Ministry has pushed the completion deadline for inoculating the second COVID-19 shots by May 5. Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long was speaking during an online meeting with local authorities on COVID-19 prevention on Friday.

(VOVWORLD) - The Ministry of Health confirmed four new coronavirus cases on Thursday morning.

(VOVWORLD) - Vietnam reported 16 imported cases of COVID-19 in the past 12 hours to 6pm on Wednesday, raising the national count to 2,733, according to the Ministry of Health.

(VOVWORLD) -US federal health agencies on Tuesday recommended pausing use of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine for at least a few days after six women under age 50 developed rare blood clots after receiving the shot, reported Reuters.