Representatives of the ASEAN Committee in Washington D.C. recently met with Stephen Claeys, Senior Director of Trade Policy of Pfizer, to discuss cooperation between Pfizer and Southeast Asian countries.

Attending the meeting were ambassadors and representatives of all 10 ASEAN countries in the US, including Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Ha Kim Ngoc.

Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez of the Philippines on behalf of the ASEAN Committee in Washington D.C. said that this was an important meeting to help find the appropriate forms of cooperation between ASEAN and Pfizer to jointly respond to the pandemic.

Stephen Clayes said that Pfizer is committed to creating equal access to the Covid-19 vaccine at reasonable prices for all. As of October 4, Pfizer provided 1.7 billion doses of vaccines to 140 countries and territories and is expected to deliver 3 billion doses of vaccines to countries around the world in 2021 and 4 billion doses of vaccine in 2022.

At the Global Health Summit in May 2021, Pfizer committed to deliver 2 billion doses of vaccine to low- and middle-income countries in 2021 and 2022 through direct agreements with governments and agreements with COVAX Facility, and a contract to provide 1 billion doses of vaccine with the US government.

Pfizer has provided vaccines to ASEAN countries under these mechanisms and assisted some ASEAN countries to raise awareness about vaccines. He acknowledged the positive comments of ASEAN countries, saying that Pfizer would implement its commitments, including those with Vietnam.

Ambassador Ha Kim Ngoc praised Pfizer's support to Vietnam, suggested that Pfizer fulfill its commitment to Vietnamese senior leaders: providing 51 million doses of vaccine in 2021 and further discussing with Vietnamese agencies on vaccine supply in 2022.

The Vietnamese Ambassador also suggested that Pfizer cooperate with Vietnam in the production of drugs to treat Covid-19 and promote an effective and safe vaccine for children.

Ambassadors and representatives of many ASEAN countries such as the Philippines and Singapore shared Vietnam's suggestion that Pfizer should build a production base in Southeast Asia, a fast-growing and dynamic region.

It was recommended that there should be cooperation between Pfizer, ASEAN and the US government in pandemic prevention and that Pfizer continue to support countries living with the pandemic and prepare for future pandemics.

Tran Thuong

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