From left to right: Deputy head of the Vietnam National Institute of Hygiene Duong Thi Hong, Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Robyn Mudi, and UNICEF Representative in Vietnam Rana Flowers.
The package was announced at a meeting held on April 19 with the attendance of UNICEF Representative in Vietnam Rana Flowers, Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Robyn Mudi, and deputy head of the Vietnam National Institute of Hygiene Duong Thi Hong.
According to the Australian Embassy in Vietnam, the Australia-UNICEF partnership will assist Vietnam across a range of areas that are vital to the successful delivery of a mass immunisation program against COVID-19.
Addressing the meeting, Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Robyn Mudie said: “Our support will help Vietnam purchase cold chain equipment to store and transport vaccine doses to where they are needed around the country, provide training courses and materials to ensure Vietnam’s health workers and officials are ready, and assist with the development of immunisation plans in Vietnam’s remote provinces to ensure equitable and uniform vaccine coverage.”
Rana Flowers, UNICEF Representative in Vietnam told the meeting that introducing anew vaccine especially for COVID-19 is a colossal task for any government with many important steps involved.
"Thanks to the partnership with the Government of Australia, UNICEF is committed to work with the Ministry of Health and other partners to support the introduction and rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in Vietnam," she said. "Mass vaccination againstCOVID-19 is an important step to contain the pandemic, protect frontline workers who serve children and for Vietnam to reopen to the rest of the world.”
The program will support Vietnam to reach the prioritised 20 per cent of population by the end of 2022 and set the foundation necessary for immunising the remainder of the population as vaccines are rolled out nationwide.