Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long (front, right) receives donations from businesses on May 25 (Photo: VNA)Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long said that sincesecured financial sources are of critical importance for carrying outstrategies to achieve the fastest and most widespread access to COVID-19vaccines, financial support from enterprises is very much necessary.
Describing the precious aid from businesses asan effective contribution to the fight against COVID-19, he called forcontinued assistance for the healthcare sector and the country as a whole in thisregard.
Long also highlighted the Politburo’s view of mobilisingevery resource in society to help Vietnam access vaccines as fast as possibleand ensure the broadest possible vaccine coverage, so as to bring the pandemicunder control and have life return to normal.
Initiated by the Prime Minister, the COVID-19vaccine fund was established to ensure finances for vaccine access. However,since vaccines are relatively expensive and have strict storage requirements,their transportation, storage, distribution, and use require major efforts fromthe healthcare sector, according to the minister.
Apart from seeking vaccine supplies from foreignsources, the country is also developing its own COVID-19 vaccines. The MoH hasbeen working actively with partners and engaging some businesses in vaccineproduction, with a view that Made-in-Vietnam vaccines will be available by 2022.
The ministry has also coordinated with relevantunits to discuss cooperation in vaccine development and manufacturing, Longnoted, adding that it has successfully negotiated with AstraZeneca,Pfizer/BioNTech, and the COVAX Facility.
By the end of 2021, Vietnam will have received about110 million COVID-19 vaccine doses, but the MoH’s task is to secure 150 milliondoses between now and then to provide inoculations for 75 percent of thepopulation, as ordered by the Politburo and the Government, he said./.
VNA
