Vietnam has reached out for support to fulfil the target to ensure 150 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines in 2021 to achieve herd immunity.
Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long has just held a meeting with the ambassadors of the EU, the US, Japan, WHO, UNICEF and UNPFA to Vietnam about Covid-19 vaccines.
Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long (L)
Long expressed gratitude to all countries and organisations that had helped Vietnam during the fight against Covid-19. Like other countries, Vietnam's current top priority is how to ensure vaccine and carry out an immunisation.
"In order to achieve herd immunity in 2021, Vietnam needs 150 million doses of vaccines. Besides developing locally-made vaccines, we are also negotiating with different manufacturers about the issues," Long said.
However, Vietnam has secured 60 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine and has received 900,000 doses as of April 1. Only 51,000 people have been vaccinated. Some of them had severe reactions but everyone is in stable condition.
The ministry hoped to get support from the US to access the vaccines developed by Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson&Johnson, as well as financial and technical supports. Vietnam and the US have agreed to set up a temporary team to work on these issues.
Long also asked Japan to share the vaccines developed in the country and help with the immunisation supply chain. At the meeting, it was promised that Japan will provide USD2m to upgrade the equipment at the medical facilities.
Long went on to say that they will launch the immunisation programme with prioritises health workers and older people. He hoped international organisations in Vietnam would work together to make the programme more effective.
