Over VND7.65 trillion added to purchase COVID-19 vaccines

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has agreed to earmark an additional VND7.65 trillion (US$320 million) for purchasing 61 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines for domestic use.

Over VND7.65 trillion added to purchase COVID-19 vaccines.
Over VND7.65 trillion added to purchase COVID-19 vaccines.

Under a decision signed on June 30, the Ministry of Health has been assigned to purchase 30 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from the Vietnam Vaccine Joint Stock Company (VNVC) and 31 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine.

The additional fund will also be earmarked for the transport, distribution and storage of as well as the purchase of vaccination supplies for vaccines sourced from the COVAX Facility and foreign funding and sponsorship.

The COVID-19 Vaccine Fund continued receiving more donations from corporations, associations, businesses, and individuals on June 30.

Secretary of the Party Central Committee and President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Do Van Chien received a donation worth VND5 billion from the Vietnam Engine and Agricultural Machinery Corporation.

While conveying his thanks to the corporation’s staff members for their donation, the VFF President pledged it will timely send the donations to pandemic-hit areas where doctors and medical workers are exerting every effort to drive back the pandemic.

He also called for the full involvement of the entire community with increased awareness and responsibility in the fight against COVID-19.

VFF President Do Van Chien receives a VND5 billion donation from the Vietnam Engine and Agricultural Machinery Corporation. (Photo: NDO/Huong Diep)

The same day, the Quang Ninh province chapter of the VFF announced that it had recently received more than VND1 billion in donations from local businesses towards the COVID-19 Vaccine Fund. Since it was launched on May 28, a total of 368 collectives and individuals in Quang Ninh have contributed more than VND140 billion to the fund.

Meanwhile, VND33 billion has been sent to the Khanh Hoa province chapter of the VFF for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines, with the latest donation of VND870 million coming from seven businesses and households in the locality.

The Quang Ngai provincial Association of Young Entrepreneurs handed over medical equipment and cash worth VND2.45 billion in total to the provincial People’s Committee yesterday to contribute to COVID-19 prevention and control.

The Vietnam Young Physicians' Association hosted a gathering on June 30 to present 20 gifts, worth VND10 million each, to young doctors, pharmacists, nurses, test technicians, and medical students from 14 cities and provinces who voluntarily worked on the front line against COVID-19 in spite of their difficult circumstances.