Australia on Wednesday handovered 300,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine to Vietnam to assist the country's Covid-19 fight.
Australian Ambassador Robyn Mudie officially hands over 300,000 vaccine doses, 614,400 masks and 40,800 isolation gowns to Vice Minister of Health, Dr Truong Quoc Cuong
The 300,000 Australian-manufactured AstraZeneca vaccines arrived in Hanoi last week. More than 700,000 doses have now been delivered to Vietnam, as part of Australia’s commitment to share 1.5 million doses.
At the ceremony, Ambassador Mudie announced that Australia would increase its support to Vietnam by assisting it to purchase approximately 3.7 million additional Covid-19 vaccine doses. These vaccine doses will be purchased through a procurement agreement with UNICEF and in partnership with Vietnam’s Ministry of Health. This will bring Australia’s contribution of vaccine doses to Vietnam to approximately 5.2 million.
“Australia is committed to supporting Vietnam in its fight against Covid-19," she said. "We are proud to stand with Vietnam in the fight against Covid-19”.
Ambassador Mudie also handed over personal protective equipment that Australia recently delivered to Vietnam. This equipment, which included 307,200 N95 respirator masks, 307,200 surgical masks and 40,800 isolation gowns, will assist Vietnam’s ongoing efforts to combat Covid-19.
Australia’s commitment to support Covid-19 vaccine access in Vietnam is now worth AUD60 million.
In addition to Australia’s support for vaccine delivery in Vietnam, Australia is working in partnership with UNICEF to support cold chain upgrades, training for healthcare workers, communications, and planning and implementation of the vaccine rollout in remote provinces in Vietnam.