Vietnam’s COVID-19 vaccine fund strongly applauded around the world

Thứ Hai, 07/06/2021, 16:59
Vietnam’s national COVID-19 vaccine fund was launched on June 5 with the aim of mobilizing all organizations, businesses and people to raise funds for import of COVID vaccines as well as for domestic research, development and production of COVID vaccines.
At the launching ceremony of the national vaccine fund on June 5. 

By 8pm on June 5, the fund, which was approved by the Government on May 26, had received 1,036 trillion VND (45 million USD).

It is estimated that to achieve herb immunity, Vietnam need at least 150 million shots of COVID vaccine for some 75 million adults. The total cost is estimated at 25,000 billion Dong.

International organizations spoke highly of Vietnam’s initiative to set up a national COVID-19 vaccine fund.

According to Dr. Kidong Park, Chief Representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Vietnam, the Government’s call for donation for the purchase as well as research, development and production of COVID vaccines has been made at the right time in line with the global vaccine initiative.

He also emphasized that solidarity would help Vietnam beat the pandemic. Vietnam would be an example of all-people approach to ending the pandemic, said the WHO official in Vietnam.

Kamal Malhotra, UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam, highlighted the UN’s appreciation of the initiative. It is important to have a national fund, which was administered by the Government, instead of different funds run by many organizations.

The COVID-19 is considered an unprecedented pandemic in the past century, and has become a national-level emergency, Malhotra said. He stressed that only the Government is capable of coordinating this fund.

Carolyn Turk, World Bank Country Director for Vietnam, said that the Government of Vietnam has taken appropriate steps to step up vaccination for the population.

A survey conducted by the UNDP showed wide support from the people of Vietnam for the Government’s COVID-19 prevention and control policies, said Caitlin Wiesen, UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam.

Giorgio Aliberti, Ambassador of the European Union to Vietnam, said the vaccine fund was an important part in the comprehensive strategy of Vietnam in COVID-19 prevention and control.

He also believed that the Government of Vietnam had a vital role to play in mobilizing and connecting all resources. 
By DT