Vietnamese gov’t welcomes public support for Covid-19 vaccination: Deputy PM
Thin supply of vaccine, not the lack of funding, is the reason that little amount of vaccines have been delivered to Vietnam, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has said.
The Vietnamese government welcomes cash contributions from the business community and people to purchase Covid-19 vaccines, which is a decisive factor to achieve herd immunity in the country.
| Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam at the meeting. Photos: Dinh Nam |
Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam made the statement at a meeting on June 4 with representatives of the business community regarding the Fund for Vaccination Prevention of Coronavirus Disease 2019.
“While the pandemic has caused severe impacts on the local economy, efforts from the government and the community have ensured positive economic growth,” said Dam, noting the pandemic is now under control in Vietnam.
The Deputy PM, however, stressed that vaccine is a long-term solution to fight the pandemic, as such, the government determines to get access to vaccines as soon as possible.
“Scarce supply of vaccine, not the lack of funding, is the reason that little amount of vaccines has been delivered to Vietnam,” Dam said.
“The establishment of a vaccine fund for Covid-19 prevention is aimed at ensuring sustainable financial resource for vaccination roll-out,” he stressed.
“We continue to prioritize vaccines for those working in essential services, such as transportation, airway, electricity, and tourism,” he noted.
The Deputy PM said that the Ministry of Health (MoH) has negotiated to secure 150-170 million doses for Vietnam, “but the main issue is the delivery time and the country’s capabilities in administering vaccine effectively, ideally before October 2021,” Dam said.
Dam requested the MoH to create favorable conditions for vaccine imports and support enterprises to buy vaccines.
| Overview of the meeting. |
Enterprises support government’s vaccine strategy
In this regard, Chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) Vu Tien Loc said the business community fully supports the government’s efforts against the pandemic and in economic recovery afterward.
“The business community would actively contribute to the Fund for Vaccination Prevention of Coronavirus Disease 2019 to speed up the vaccination program,” he said.
Vice Chairman of the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham) Nguyen Hai Minh stressed the contributions of enterprises to vaccine purchase are not aiming at earning them any priority in getting the vaccine.
“EuroCham members are willing to take part in all the process of vaccine purchase, transportation, and storing,” he said.
Minh also called for the MoH to soon issue regulations for the quarantine period regarding vaccinated people, saying foreign enterprises need the presence of foreign experts in the country.
“Disruption to this process could cause major impacts on our operations,” Minh said.
At the meeting, Deputy PM Dam advised the MoH to soon add workers at manufacturing plans and industrial parks into the list of high-risk groups, so that they could be prioritized in vaccination.
In Hanoi, the Standing Committee of the municipal Party Committee has issued announcement No.316-TB/TU on June 3, stressing the goal of realizing the dual goal of both containing the pandemic and boosting economic recovery. In this regard, the city requested industrial parks and clusters to draft and approve plans to protect enterprises from potential Covid-19 infection. Hanoi would continue to tighten the management of quarantine zones and areas with a high number of foreign experts, apartments, and hotels, along with promoting public participation in vaccine purchase. |
