HCMC – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has asked AstraZeneca to create the most favorable conditions for Vietnam to take delivery of at least 10 million Covid-19 vaccine doses by August 2021.
At a meeting with Nitin Kapoor, chairman and general director of AstraZeneca Vietnam, on June 29, the Government leader suggested AstraZeneca coordinate closely with Vietnam to support the country in producing Covid-19 vaccines and offer a better vaccine price for Vietnam, the local media reported.
Kapoor said Covid-19 vaccines are scarce worldwide given the high demand. However, he promised to report the PM’s suggestions to the company and persuaded the company to send at least eight million doses to Vietnam next month and in early August.
He also pledged to propose to AstraZeneca’s competent agencies to reduce the selling price of the vaccine to Vietnam.
In addition, AstraZeneca will help the country produce its own Covid-19 vaccines and enhance the company’s production of medicines in Vietnam, such as those for cancer, cardiovascular and intestinal diseases and medicines for children.
PM Chinh affirmed that the Government’s suggestions were aimed at conducting the vaccination strategy in a prompt, safe and effective manner.
To date, Vietnam has received nearly 4.5 million Covid-19 vaccine doses, including nearly 2.5 million doses from the Covax Facility, over 400,000 doses as part of an order placed by the Vietnam Vaccine JSC and nearly one million doses from Japan.
Early next month, the country will receive another one million doses donated by Japan. All of these vaccine doses are the AstraZeneca vaccine.
In addition, China presented Vietnam with 500,000 Vero-Cell doses produced by Sinopharm.
As of June 29, Vietnam has administered nearly 3.5 million Covid-19 vaccine doses.
