 The launch of the COVID-19 Vaccine Fund on June 5, 2021 (Photo: VNA) |
The COVID-19 Vaccine Fund was initiated on May 31st and officially made its debut on June 5th in Hanoi to mobilize social resources to share the burden with the state budget in purchasing vaccines and studying and producing homegrown vaccines.
Appreciation for Vietnam’s initiative
Vietnam aims to buy 150 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines worth more than 1 billion USD to vaccinate 75 million people. Experts say the pandemic cannot be contained early and people will have to live together with the virus. Vaccination will become a periodic work. While Vietnam has to handle various difficulties with limited state budget, contributions by individuals and organizations to the COVID-19 Fund will realize the target of a safer life for families and society.
Dr Kidong Park, WHO representative in Vietnam, called this mobilization of resources to improve access to COVID-19 vaccines timely and in line with the global vaccine initiative. The government’s fair and effective management of public resources will boost Vietnam’s COVID-19 prevention and control strategy, he said, expressing his hope that Vietnam will continue to be a model of engaging all its people to end the pandemic.
UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam Kamal Malhotra said the initiative has received support from the UN.
Welcoming the vaccine fund, Carolyn Turk, World Bank Country Director for Vietnam, said the Vietnamese government has made an effective move to speed up the vaccine drive.
Ambassador Giorgio Aliberti, Head of the European Union Delegation to Vietnam, said establishing the fund was an important part of the general strategy to deal with COVID-19 in Vietnam. It means the government has fully realized the demand and taken faster actions.
The Nikkei Asia said the COVID-19 Vaccine Fund is an important part in Vietnam’s vaccination program to ensure sufficient vaccines for all people by the end of this year.
 Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh addresses the launch of the COVID-19 Vaccine Fund. (Photo: VGP) |
Widespread support
The Management Board of the COVID-19 Vaccine Fund said Tuesday that in the 4 days since its debut the Fund has received about 180 million USD from 200,000 organizations and individuals and another 140 million USD worth of commitment.
The donors are organizations, businesses, and ordinary people inside and outside the country. Executive Director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam Mary Tarnowka said AmCham is willing to pay the cost of vaccines for their employees.
Hong Sun, Vice President of the South Korean Business Association in Vietnam (Korcham), said, “South Korean businesses support the Fund and want to make contributions. Some Korean businesses have already vaccinated their workers and they can resume normal operations.”
The COVID-19 Fund hopes to mobilize sufficient donations for Vietnam to buy 150 million doses of vaccine to achieve herd immunity soon.