The Ministry of Health encourages all eligible enterprises to negotiate with suppliers for vaccine imports in order to help the nation ward off the coronavirus.
To date, Vietnam has secured several supplies of COVID-19 vaccines, including support from COVAX Facility – a mechanism set up by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Global Alliance on Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), UNICEF, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), and manufacturers and partners for the development of vaccines to ensure that all countries have fair and effective access to vaccines.
According to an announcement from UNICEF, the COVAX Facility has committed to supplying Vietnam with 30 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine this year, with the first batch of 1.37 million doses expected to arrive on March 25, while the second with 2.8 million doses on April 25. The remaining 25.9 million doses will be transported to the Southeast Asian country from August to November.
The second supply of AstraZeneca vaccine comes from the Vietnam Vaccine Joint Stock Company (VNVC). Last month, 117,600 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine produced by SK Bio of the Republic of Korea arrived in Vietnam. A total 29.87 million doses will arrive in the nation in April (1.48 million doses), May (2.76 million doses), June (5.04 million doses), July (7.32 million doses), and August (13.27 million doses).
As many as 955 AstraZeneca vaccine shots were given to frontline medical workers in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Duong and Gia Lai during March 8-10. They were part of the Vietnam’s first batch of 117,600 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine that arrived late last month.
Vietnam launched its COVID-19 inoculation drive on March 8 morning, administering the AstraZeneca vaccine to medical workers in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and northern Hai Duong province.
The Ministry of Health has allocated the vaccine to 13 localities, along with the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Public Security and 21 hospitals during the first phase.
Vietnam will receive 5,657,000 more doses of COVID-19 vaccine in March and April, all made by AstraZeneca, the National Expanded Programme on Immunisation said.
Of the amount, 4,177,000 doses will be supplied by COVAX Facility via UNICEF, with 1,373,800 doses to arrive on March 25 and another 2,803,200 doses in April.
Meanwhile, 1.48 million doses bought by the Health Ministry via VNVC will also be delivered in April.
Vietnam received the first batch of 117,600 doses of COVID-19 on February 24.
The country plans to import about 150 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines.
