Int’l organisations’ representatives praise COVID-19 vaccine fund initiative

The fund was officially inaugurated on Saturday to mobilise social resources to facilitate the purchase of vaccines and the research and production of domestic vaccines.

Dr Kidong Park, WHO Representative in Vietnam, said the mobilisation to improve access to COVID-19 vaccine of the Vietnamese Government is carried out in a timely manner and in line with the global vaccine initiative.

UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam Kamal Malhotra said that the initiative has received support from the UN over the months.

He noted that there should only be one fund at the national level, under the supervision and guidance of the Government. 

Welcoming the inauguration of the vaccine fund, Carolyn Turk, World Bank Country Director for Vietnam, said that the Vietnamese Government has made an accurate move in speeding up the vaccine drive.

UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam Caitlin Wiesen said a UNDP study showed that people in the country highly support the government's COVID-19 prevention and control measures.

She expressed her belief that people from all walks of life, especially businesses will respond to the Government’s call and make contributions to the newly-established fund. 

Ambassador Giorgio Aliberti, head of the European Union Delegation to Vietnam, said the establishment of the vaccine fund has a significant role in Vietnam’s strategy in combating COVID-19..

He also said he believes that the Vietnamese government plays a core role in the mobilisation and connection of resources.  

As of 8pm on June 5, the fund, which was approved by the Government on May 26, had received 1.036 trillion VND (45 million USD).

Vietnam is projected to need 150 million doses of vaccine to inoculate about 75 million people at an estimated cost of 25.2 trillion VND.