According to updated data from the State Treasury, as of 5pm on August 8, the total balance of the Covid-19 Vaccine Fund was VND8,458 billion (including foreign currency conversion), from more than 344,000 organisations and individuals who have contributed and supported the fund in many forms, such as sending messages, transfers, and cash.
Businesses have actively contributed to the fund. Notably, only three days after launching the fund (June 5), the amount from groups, corporations and state-owned enterprises had contributed support of more than VND2,360 billion to the fund.
In addition, the Covid-19 Vaccine Fund has received strong support and response from the Vietnamese community across the country and in many locations around the world, such as the US, Egypt, Mozambique, Cambodia, and Thailand, Singapore, Laos, Germany, Russia, and Switzerland.
The continuous increase in the amount of the fund shows the great solidarity of the Vietnamese people. The amount is regularly updated to show the openness and transparency, encouraging the trust for everyone to continue to contribute.
Thanks to the fund, the national financial resources for the fight against the Covid-19 epidemic are and will be significantly improved, contributing to accelerating the implementation of the nationwide vaccination strategy from now to the end of 2021, with the goal of achieving herd immunity by early 2022.
On June 30, 2021, the Prime Minister issued Decision 1022/QD-TTg on supplementing funds for the Ministry of Health to purchase and use Covid-19 vaccines. Accordingly, the Government supplement more than VND7.65 trillion (around US$332 million) to the Ministry of Health to purchase 61 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines. The vaccines include 30 million doses manufactured by AstraZeneca and 31 million doses produced by Pfizer, as suggested by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Health. Of which, over VND 5.1 trillion (around US$ 221 million) was supplemented from the State budget reserve for 2021 for the Health Ministry's budget spending estimate to purchase medical equipment and supplies, biological products, chemicals and drugs for COVID-19 prevention and control; and VND 2.55 trillion (around US$111) was supplemented from the Vietnam Covid-19 Vaccine Fund established under the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 779/QD-TTg, dated May 26, 2021,.
Recently, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh assigned Minister of Health to immediately organise negotiations with partners to purchase and license, preserve and organise Covid-19 vaccine injection, including the goal of responding to urgent recommendations of four domestic associations: Vietnam Leather, Footwear, and Handbag Association (LEFASO); Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (VITAS); Vietnam Electronic Industries Association (VEIA); and Handicraft and Wood Industry Association of Ho Chi Minh City (HAWA). The four associations proposed that the Government support Covid-19 vaccine purchase to vaccinate their staff in export areas, to ensure epidemic prevention while maintaining business operations. All costs to implement the above activities will be directly supplied by businesses of industry associations.
The Covid-19 epidemic has caused many difficulties in production and business activities of the whole world and each country, as well as of each enterprise. In order to return to normal production and life, herd immunity must be achieved quickly. The prevention of the Covid-19 epidemic is not a problem of the Government or an organisation alone, but a problem of the people and businesses as a whole.
In Vietnam, the Government decided to give priority to people who are working to protect and maintain production activities. Currently, workers in industrial zones are being given priority for vaccination, especially in provinces and cities that are Covid-19 hotspots.
Funds for vaccination are taken from both the State Budget and the Covid-19 Vaccine Fund. The Government also welcomes and creates favourable conditions for businesses to buy drugs and vaccinate their employees in accordance with regulations.
This policy is not only a medical solution to facilitate the manufacturing industry and create confidence for investors as well as buyers of manufactured goods from Vietnam, but also shows that the Government of Vietnam attaches great importance to stabilising production and ensuring the lives of workers.
The Covid-19 Vaccine Fund to mobilise the contributions of all people and businesses is a very good and necessary initiative, demonstrating the good tradition of "mutual love" and the strength of the whole nation, featuring a noble and very humane meaning, with the aim of helping all people be vaccinated, creating herd immunity, and protecting people's health and life to continue developing the country.
