Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (right) had talks with Nitin Kapoor, President for Asia Area Frontier Markets at AstraZeneca, and Chairman and General Director of AstraZeneca Vietnam, on Wednesday in Hanoi. — VNA/VNS Photo Duong Giang

Highly valuing the role and contributions of AstraZeneca in the fight against COVID-19 in the world and Vietnam, PM Chinh hailed AstraZeneca Vietnam’s close coordination with the Vietnamese Ministry of Health, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant agencies to complete its commitment to provide 30 million COVID-19 vaccine doses for Vietnam in 2021 ahead of schedule, contributing to the country’s efforts to switch to strategy of safe, flexible adaptation to and effective control of the pandemic.

AstraZeneca has also helped foster the strategic partnership between Vietnam and the UK in health care, he said.

Kapoor spoke highly of Vietnam’s efforts in implementing its vaccine diplomacy, describing the country as an exemplary model in pandemic control. He also praised Vietnam’s socio-economic recovery policies, reform efforts and freshly-approved support package of nearly VND350 trillion (US$15.42 billion).

He briefed the Vietnamese leader on the implementation of agreements reached by PM Chính and AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot in their meeting last November during the PM’s visit to the UK. Kapoor said that AstraZeneca is speeding up a $90 million project to transfer drug manufacturing technology to Vietnam and is seeking a Vietnamese partner to transfer its vaccine production technology.

Kapoor said that AstraZeneca is considering the reduction of vaccine price for Vietnam.

PM Chinh thanked AstraZeneca for working with Vietnam to fight COVID-19, and proposed the company continue to realise its committed projects in Vietnam, while continuing to provide new-generation COVID-19 vaccines and treatment medicines to improve the country’s capacity to respond to new SARS-CoV-2 variants, and share international experiences in administering COVID-19 vaccines to children aged between 5-12.

The PM pledged that the Vietnamese Government will support and create optimal conditions for AstraZeneca to implement its research, production and technology transfer projects in Vietnam. He hoped that the firm will continue to accompany Vietnam’s health care sector, contributing to deepening the Vietnam-UK strategic partnership.

Kapoor reaffirmed AstraZeneca's commitments in Vietnam and vowed to support Vietnam in becoming a leading pharmaceutical centre in the region.

Source: Vietnam News

Vietnam to purchase an additional 25 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine

The Vietnam Vaccine Joint Stock Company (VNVC) on November 2 signed a contract to purchase an additional 25 million doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine with the pharmaceutical multinational company AstraZeneca.