Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang during Thursday press briefing. — Photo from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

She made the statement in response to recent announcements of vaccine donation, two million doses of Moderna from the US via COVAX Facility, and additional one million doses of AstraZeneca vaccines from the Japanese Government.

UNICEF Vietnam, which administers the delivery of vaccines under COVAX initiative, confirmed with Việt Nam News that the shipment from the US is slated to enter the country via Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi early Saturday morning. The remaining doses from Japan is due to arrive at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in HCM City on Friday morning, according to the health ministry.

“Vietnam welcomes and appreciates the sharing of COVID-19 vaccines, and the information and technology necessary to aid the fight against the pandemic,” spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, Le Thi Thu Hang said.

“Amid the complicated nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam hopes that countries and international organisations will be united and fulfill their responsibilities to the global community,” Hang said.

To date, Vietnam has received four different types of COVID-19 vaccines from Japan, China, Russia, and the US, along with purchases. COVAX has also pledged to give priority to Vietnam in its future distribution.

Vietnam itself has also contributed US$500 million to the global vaccine sharing initiative which aims to ensure equitable access to the vaccine, despite itself struggling to get enough vaccines for its population of almost 100 million amidst serious recent spike in COVID-19 infections.

As of July 7, 3,960,956 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in Vietnam, and 241,913 people have been given two full doses, according to a report Thursday from the health ministry. 

Chinese vaccine administration

Previously on June 20, Vietnam received some 500,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccines along with 502,400 single-use syringes as aid, and the bilateral agreement is understood as to give them to will be given to Chinese nationals living in Vietnam, Vietnamese people who intend to go to work or study in China and residents in the border region with China.

Hang also affirmed that these doses will be used in line with Government Resolution 21 dated February 26, 2021 on the purchases and uses of COVID-19 vaccines, in response to questions over recent reports from China complaining that Vietnam's allocation decisions have not been in line with the two countries' original plan.

"Per China’s request, Vietnam will also carry out the vaccination of Chinese citizens working in the country,” the spokesperson said.

The Vietnamese health ministry has announced its distribution plan for the vaccine doses which states that nearly all will be used for the three above-mentioned groups in the nine northern provinces. This, however, has sparked concerns in China that Chinese nationals in other localities of Vietnam are missing out.

Source: Vietnam News

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