The Vietnamese Party, State, Government and people always treasure the practical and timely support of international friends during the COVID-19 fight, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
A batch of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine supported by the US Government at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi on July 10. (Source: WHO)– The Vietnamese Party, State,
Government and people always treasure the practical and timely support of
international friends during the COVID-19 fight, according to the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs.
The ministry said since the pandemic broke out,
Vietnam has received valuable support from people and Governments of foreign countries, as
well as international organisations.
The medical supplies have helped the country sail
through waves of COVID-19 outbreaks, it noted.
Given the complex developments of the pandemic, the
Vietnamese Government has considered vaccine access and widespread inoculation a
crucial, urgent solution.
Therefore, Vietnam has stepped up “vaccine diplomacy,”
with the engagement of Party, State, Government and National Assembly leaders,
and ministries, and agencies.
Such efforts paid off as the country has received the
warm response from partners, neighbours and international friends that have
committed up to 150 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, despite a global
shortage of vaccines.
Vietnam has so far got more than 8 million doses from
foreign countries and partners, of which 4.5 million doses were channeled through
the COVAX Facility, with 2 million doses from the US, 3 million doses from Japan,
0.5 million doses from China and 1,000 doses from Russia.
The partners have also pledged to further aid the Southeast
Asian nation in the time ahead.
Other countries like India, the UK, Australia, Cuba
and Germany have also made specific commitments to donations and cooperation in
the transfer of vaccine production technology.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and countries
like Laos, Japan, the Republic of Korea (RoK), Australia, Germany, Cambodia and
Saudi Arabia have also provided Vietnam with medical supplies and sources to
serve the pandemic combat.
Vietnam is rolling out its largest-ever inoculation campaign.
As of July 20, more than 4.3 million people have been vaccinated, of whom over
300,000 got full two shots.
According to the ministry, the Vietnamese leaders have
thanked the valuable support during their meetings and online talks, and in
letters to foreign leaders, saying it demonstrates the fine relations between
Vietnam and partners and international friends.
At the same time, Vietnam has joined hands with the
international community in the combat through cooperation activities and the
exchange of experience and sources.
The country has contributed 500,000 USD to the vaccine
sharing scheme COVAX./.