Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (centre), Nitin Kapoor (third, left), and other officials, June 29 (Photo: chinhphu.vn)

Prime Minister Chinh asked AstraZeneca to create the most favourable  condition for Vietnam obtain at least 10 million doses by the beginning of August to conduct its vaccination rollout, which will vaccinate people in Vietnam free of charge. He asked for AstraZeneca’s support for Vietnam’s domestic vaccine production and a reduced price on vaccine doses sold to Vietnam.

Kapoor said the world is short of COVID-19 vaccines because demand has soared much higher than production capacity. But he promised to lobby for at least 8 million doses to be delivered to Vietnam in July and early August and seek AstraZeneca’s approval of a discount for Vietnam.

AstraZeneca will also help Vietnam produce vaccines, medicine for children, and drugs to treat cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and intestinal diseases, Kapoor said, adding that the company will foster initiatives to improve Vietnam’s healthcare system.