He urged COVAX to accelerate the supply of vaccines for Vietnam, noting that the country is witnessing an increasing number of locally-transmitted COVID-19 infections, especially in industrial parks. Vietnam is working hard to acquire technology to self-produce vaccines for local people, Minister Long said.

Vietnam has so far received nearly 2.6 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine from COVAX out of nearly 39 million doses it committed to this year and is urgently carrying out its vaccination campaign.

Vietnam is committed to participating in the technology transfer chain for vaccine production, he said, adding that the country will invest in a vaccine production factory, which is expected to be licensed for production to supply vaccines to COVAX Facility and other countries.

Minister Long announced that Vietnam will contribute 500,000 USD to COVAX Facility.