HCMC – The United Kingdom (UK) has announced that will present 415,000 AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine doses to Vietnam, which will be handed over this week to support the country’s fight against the disease.
According to a press release on the website of the UK Government on July 28, the vaccine is part of the nine million vaccine doses that the UK has committed to donate to developing countries.
The nine million doses will be distributed to countries from July 30, said First Secretary of State and Foreign Secretary of the UK Dominic Raab.
“This is a global pandemic and Covid-19 vaccines are the best way to protect people and prevent the emergence of new variants. We want to make sure developing countries can build a wall of defense against the virus as we have in the UK through our vaccine rollout,” UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid said.
Of the nine million doses, five million doses will be provided through the Covax Facility, while the UK will hand over the remaining four million doses directly to the countries.
At a meeting with Raab on June 22, State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc suggested the UK create more favorable conditions for Vietnam to access Covid vaccine supplies and production technology.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, at a meeting the following day, continued to seek the UK’s support in accessing Covid-19 vaccines.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs To Anh Dung, at a meeting with British Minister of State for Asia Nigel Adams on July 22, also suggested the UK continue supporting Vietnam to access Covid vaccine supplies and other medical equipment, such as ventilators and test kits.
