This tradition has been kept alive through thousands of years of history, becoming a symbol of community solidarity and responsibility sharing, and a typical cultural identity of the Vietnamese people. It has motivated patriotism, helping our country conquer every difficulty and keeping the nation moving forward.
This tradition has been once again evident during the fight against “the COVID-19 enemy", as the country’s cultural values have boosted the strength of the people.
Soon after the Prime Minister decided to establish the COVID-19 Vaccine Fund on May 26, leading to the official launch of the fund in Hanoi on June 5, many people see it as a fund mirroring people's hearts; a fund of compassion, benevolence, solidarity and trust; a fund that binds hearts together.
The fund illustrates the consensus of the people, no matter how old or young, rich or poor, at home or abroad, as well as organisations and businesses from different social and religious background and geographical locations, who have a common wish to give a helping hand in the purchase and import of vaccines as well as in the research, development and production of domestic vaccines.
The establishment of the fund has also once again affirmed the strategic and clear-sighted vision of our Party and State. Since the COVID-19 appeared in our country, our Party and State recognised the serious danger the SARS-CoV-2 virus posed and made drastic directions such as "fighting the epidemic like fighting the enemy", identifying it as an enemy directly threatening people's lives and the country’s development.
Even though the economy is damaged by the pandemic, our Party and State are determined to mobilise all resources to fight against this enemy. Since the beginning of 2020, the Government has spent VND21.1 trillion from the State budget for the prevention and control of the pandemic, including VND14.5 trillion to purchase vaccines.
In order to bring life to normal, the Party and State have set a goal to administer free vaccines to all people to soon achieve herd immunity, considering it a fundamental, long-term, strategic and decisive solution to get rid of the pandemic.
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Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chinh (right) presents certificates of merit to donors to the COVID-19 Vaccine Fund at the fund’s launch ceremony in Hanoi on June 5. (Photo: VNA)
In the context of the fourth wave of COVID-19 infections seeing rapid and unpredictable developments, the Government's decision to establish the vaccine fund to mobilise social resources has won great public appreciation. In just two hours since its launch, the fund had received VND17.7 billion VND via SMS messages sent to the National Humanitarian Portal 1400.
Despite facing many difficulties caused by the pandemic, corporations and entrepreneurs, such as Viettel, PVN, EVN, VNPT, Vinataba, Golf Long Thanh, T&T, Sovico and HD Bank, have shown their sense of social responsibility by making significant donations to the fund.
At the launch ceremony, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh presented certificates of contribution to the fund’s donors, including a 15-year-old high school student with a contribution of VND100,000, an 82-year-old retired railway officer who gave VND200,000, a doctor, representatives of the Vietnam Buddhist Church and the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Vietnam.
This shows that no matter how much they donated, they were all worthy to receive applause and acknowledgement, as Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said: “The Party, State and Government understand and appreciate all the contributions of the people and businesses, no matter how much it is, they all come from the heart and a sense of responsibility to the community”
The fund's balance as of 5pm on June 12 stood at more than VND 4.8 trillion (over US$210 million), including foreign currency conversion fees, by 283,169 contributing organisations, units and individuals.
The Government’s commitment to managing the fund tightly, correctly and transparently and use the fund effectively and economically to serve the people’s health and happiness has also won much public appreciation. The Ministry of Finance has committed to publicising the fund’s balance and list of donors transparently as well as the Ministry of Health’s final accounts after each vaccination programme is secured using the fund.
The COVID-19 Vaccine Fund reflects people’s responsibility to the country and joint effort to win the battle against COVID-19. As Prime Minster Pham Minh Chinh said that the launch ceremony: “The consensus of the people is key to beat the pandemic and return to a normal, peaceful, and safe life.”
