The Ministry of Health plans to buy 150 million doses of vaccine to inoculate about 75 million people at an estimated cost of VND 25.2 trillion (US$ 1.09 billion). Of the amount, VND 21 trillion will be used to purchase vaccines and the remainder will cover transportation, preservation, distribution and vaccination costs.
The MoF stated that VND 16 trillion for vaccine procurement will come from the state budget, while the remaining VND 9.2 trillion will be mobilised from localities, businesses and organisations.
In the case that the pandemic persists, leading to an annual increase in demand for vaccines, it would be difficult to fulfil the target of having all people inoculated if Vietnam depends on the State budget only, according to the finance ministry.
Therefore, the establishment of the COVID-19 vaccine fund is necessary to meet urgent requirements in the fight against the pandemic while accelerating vaccine purchase and import for the sake of the immunisation drive.
The non-profit fund is to manage and coordinate its finances for sponsorship, purchase and usage of COVID-19 vaccines. Its operation will be placed under the supervision of State financial management institutions and the State Audit Office of Vietnam.
The State Audit Office is obliged to report on budget collection and spending to the Government and the National Assembly, as well as to publicise mobilised sources, the list of donors and its balance.
The Government previously issued a resolution promulgating the purchase and use of vaccines, given the complex developments of COVID-19 across the world and the decisions of the Politburo and the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat to buy vaccines with money mainly from the State budget along with other legal financial sources.
The resolution stipulates that the sources include allocations from the State budget, assistance of organisations, individuals at home and abroad, and other legal funding, along with sums paid voluntarily by vaccine users.
