Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh holds online talks with Pfizer Chairman and CEO Albert Bourla. (Photo: VNA)During his online talks with Pfizer Chairman and CEOAlbert Bourla, Chinh called on the company to soon hand over the vaccine for childrenand under 18-year-old people to Vietnam as the country is working hard toadminister 70 percent of its population by early 2022.
The PM lauded Pfizer’s role and contributions inprotecting public health globally, notably in the pandemic fight through itssuccessful development of Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
He used the occasion to thank the company for itscontribution to Vietnam’s medical development, as well as its supply ofvaccines according to an agreement under which Vietnam purchases 31 million dosesof Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
The Vietnamese Government has recently agreed to buy an additionalnearly 20 million doses from the firm, he said.
Chinh expressed his hope that Pfizer would helpVietnam borrow and receive vaccines from other countries, and suggested newcooperation forms like the transfer of vaccine technologies, especiallyCOVID-19 drugs.
He also hoped to promote the strategic, long-termcooperation with Pfizer in pharmaceuticals, technological research, developmentand transfer, and health capacity improvement for Vietnam, affirming the VietnameseGovernment places the top priority on social welfare and public health.
On August 9, the PM also sent a letter to Bourla,asking for vaccination cooperation.
For his part, Bourla applauded the VietnameseGovernment’s efforts and measures in combating the pandemic and protectingpublic health, and noted his belief that the country will soon contain thepandemic.
He said the COVID-19 cases have increased rapidlyacross the globe due to the Delta variant, thus hindering Pfizer’s efforts invaccine supply.
Pfizer will try its best to speed up the vaccine delivery to Vietnam in August, September and the fourth quarter of this year, and standsready to help the country get vaccines from other countries through different transferforms, he pledged.
Pfizer backs the US government’s assistance to Vietnamin vaccines, he said, stressing the company is willing to cooperate with thecountry as suggested by the PM./.
VNA
