Illustrative image (Source: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) - The Ministry of Health (MoH) has negotiated with partners in the UK,the US, Russia, and China about purchasing COVID-19 vaccines, Deputy MinisterTruong Quoc Cuong said on January 4.
He told aGovernment press conference that the UK’s AstraZeneca biopharmaceutical companyhas agreed to ensure vaccine supply for 15 million people, or about 30 million doses,to be delivered throughout the year.
Pfizer from theUS has also set a roadmap for vaccine supply to the fourth quarter of thisyear, Cuong said.
Vietnam,meanwhile, may produce the Sputnik V vaccine from Russia at a company under themanagement of the MoH, using technology transferred by the Russian side.
The MoH isconsulting with other ministries and agencies on issues emerging duringnegotiations and will report them to the Politburo when necessary, he went on.
The ministry hastaken prompt action in accordance with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’sinstructions so that people can be vaccinated quickly, he said, highlightingthe close coordination between ministries and agencies in this regard.
The GlobalAlliance for Vaccines and Immunizations purchases vaccines from certaincompanies for about 90 countries, including Vietnam, where about 16 percent of thepopulation will benefit from the programme with the cheapest prices possible.
Currentproduction capacity, however, has failed to meet the huge demand, Cuong said,noting that Vietnam will be able to prepare full vaccination plans sometime inthe first quarter./.
VNA
