Health Ministry receives 21 billion VND in donation to vaccine purchase fund

Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long (fifth from left) receives the from the donors (Photo: nhandan.com.vn)

Hanoi, (VNA) – The Health Ministry received 21 billion VND (over
912,400 USD) donated by enterprises to the ministry’s fund for purchasing
vaccine at a ceremony in Hanoi on February 5.

The donors were the Thaiholdings JSC and the Lien Viet PostBank.

At the ceremony, Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long hailed the
enterprises for their donation, stressing that buying vaccine is one of the top
priority tasks of the health sector so that people’s life and other activities
can return to normal.

The Party and State recognize the efforts and contributions of all
organisations and individuals in the fight against the pandemic.

The minister informed that Vietnam has signed a contract with the AstraZeneca
of the UK to buy COVID-19 vaccine, and the first batch is expected to arrive in
the country late February or early March. By June there will be around 30
million doses of the vaccine to carry out vaccination.

The is still continuing to hold talks with other
partners to buy more vaccine, he said, adding that it is also pushing the
research and production of domestic vaccine, with positive progress./.