COVAX sets out plan for distribution of vaccines in Vietnam

COVAX, the global alliance for equitable global access to Covid-19 vaccines, will distribute vaccines for Vietnam in the first quarter of this year.

Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam (2nd right) and representatives of UN, UNDP, UNICEF, WHO at a meeting on February. Photo: VGP

Representatives of the UN, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, and the World Health Organization (WHO) made the commitment at a meeting with Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam on February 5.

Currently, UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam Kamal Malhotra, UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam Caitlin Wiesen, UNICEF Representative in Vietnam Rana Flowers, and WHO Representative in Vietnam Dr Kidong Park are working with the Ministry of Health to plan the vaccination in the country as required by COVAX.

Mr. Kamal Malhotra and Dr. Kidong Park have taken into account that the vaccine supply and support to the poor countries, including Vietnam, must be fair, in addition to the supply by private manufacturers amid unpredictable Covid-19 movements.

At the meeting, the representatives hailed Vietnam’s efforts against the pandemic over the past year, mostly in the ongoing wave, with an aim to make Tet holiday safe for all people in Vietnam.

COVAX is a global initiative aimed at working with vaccine manufacturers to provide countries worldwide equitable access to safe and effective vaccines, once they are licensed and approved.

COVAX currently has the world’s largest and most diverse Covid-19 vaccine portfolio.

Regarding COVAX, Prime Minister of Sweden Stefan Löfven said “Equal access to a Covid-19 vaccine is the key to beating the virus and paving the way for recovery from the pandemic.”

This cannot be a race with a few winners, making sure all countries can benefit from access to the world’s largest portfolio of candidates and fair and equitable distribution of vaccine doses, he noted.

Vietnam has finalized procedures for the circulation of the first vaccine against Covid-19 that is the UK-sourced AstraZeneca vaccine. The producer has pledged to provide the country 30 million doses in 2021.