In his remarks, Chinh said the fund was established to mobilise social resources for the purchase and import of vaccines as well as for research, development and production of domestic vaccines.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the launching ceremony of the vaccine fund.

Though Vietnam has been one of the most successful countries in the world at containing the Covid-19 pandemic as evidenced by low infection and death rates, the pandemic is still evolving with new strains first found in India and the UK behind the recent surge of domestic cases in Vietnam.

In order to return life to normal, the Party and State set the goal to administer free vaccines to all people to soon achieve herd immunity, considering it a fundamental, long-term, strategic and decisive solution to get rid of the pandemic, he said.

The Government leader said that the consensus of the people is key to beat the pandemic and return to a normal, peaceful, and safe life.

He urged subordinate levels to promptly create favourable conditions for all individuals and organisations to make contributions to the fund.

As of 8pm on June 5, the fund, which was approved by the Government on May 26, had received 1.036 trillion VND (45 million USD).

Speaking at the launch ceremony, Minister of Finance Ho Duc Phoc said his minstry, which is in charge of the vaccine fund, has established a management board for the fund at the State Treasury and opened a bank account to receive support from individuals and organisations inside and outside the country.

The fund is a precious and important resource for the country to fight the pandemic and continue socio-economic development, he said.

According to Phoc, Vietnam needs 150 million doses of vaccines to administer about 75 percent of its population this year, with total cost amounting to 25 trillion VND.

EU Ambassador willing to help Vietnam access COVID-19 vaccine sources

Ambassador Giorgio Aliberti, head of the European Union Delegation to Vietnam, told President Nguyen Xuan Phuc on June 1 that he is willing to support Vietnam in accessing Covid-19 vaccine sources and vaccine technology transfer from Europe.

Vietnam hopes for more international support in accessing Covid-19 vaccines

Vietnam hopes to receive more support from international organisations and countries around the world to access more sources of Covid-19 vaccines, Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long told at an online meeting with representatives from the COVAX Facility scheme (COVAX) and health officials from a number of countries on June 1.

Deputy PM orders all-out efforts for import of Covid-19 vaccines

All possible measures must be taken and all obstacles must be addressed to soon secure Covid-19 vaccines, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, who is also Head of the National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control, said at a meeting on May 31.

Vietnam seeks US support for buying, producing Covid vaccines

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc has written to U.S. President Joe Biden, seeking help for Vietnam to source Covid-19 vaccines and research and produce its own.

Covid-19 vaccine fund raises VND185 billion

Minister of Heath Nguyen Thanh Long on May 28 received VND185 billion (US$8.01 million) in donations from businesses for Vietnam’s Covid-19 vaccine fund.

Source: VNA