Australia donates Vietnam additional 3.6M Covid-19 vaccine doses

Australia has granted 3.6 million more Pfizer vaccine doses to Vietnam through a procurement agreement with UNICEF, meeting the commitment to deliver 7.8 million doses to the Southeast Asian country that Canberra is holding Strategic Partnership with.

Ambassador Robyn Mudie and UNICEF Representative Rana Flowers. Photo: Truong Viet Hung/UNICEF

The final doses arrived at Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City on February 19.

In addition to the Pfizer doses procured through UNICEF, Australia has shared 4.2 million AstraZeneca doses from its own supply since August last year.

Australia’s Ambassador to Vietnam, Robyn Mudie said: “Australia is a close friend and partner of Vietnam and we continue to unite in our shared fight against Covid-19. Vietnam has made tremendous progress with its Covid-19 vaccine rollout and I am proud that Australia could contribute towards this important work. It is critical to saving lives and boosting economic recovery”.

UNICEF Representative, Rana Flowers stressed that: “These vaccines will help Vietnam in its effort to reach all, extending overtime to children, and ensuring the rollout of booster doses. All of which contributes to a reduction in the severity of disease experienced, and importantly protects hospitals and the health workers from being overwhelmed”.

Vietnam has proven itself highly efficient in the safe delivery of vaccines, ensuring that these are utilized effectively, Flowers added.

The Pfizer doses were purchased with UNICEF’s support through Australia’s AUD60 million (US$43 million) package for Vietnam’s Covid-19 vaccine rollout. Besides, Australia is partnering with UNICEF to ensure vaccine distribution is safe, effective and equitable.

The Australia-UNICEF partnership has bolstered Vietnam’s Covid-19 vaccination campaign, the delivery of 1,910 refrigerators to hard-to-reach communes, healthcare worker training, and communications campaigns.

Australia’s vaccine deliveries and comprehensive package of support have made this country one of Vietnam’s top partners supporting the national Covid-19 vaccination campaign.

Sharing with The Hanoi Times, Ambassador Robyn Mudie said: “I was particularly pleased recently to announce Australia’s new commitment of vaccine support to Vietnam,” noting that “Australia’s support is also for more than just vaccine doses.”

In the supporting package, Australia is also sharing technical expertise from flagship Australian institutions, such as the Therapeutic Goods Administration and the National Center for Immunization Research and Surveillance. This assistance will help Vietnam now, and into the future.

In addition, Australia is supporting global mechanisms to deliver vaccines to the region, including Vietnam. Australia has committed AUD130 million to the COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC) to support equitable global access to safe and effective Covid-19 vaccines, according to the ambassador.