Vietnam's COVID-19 response initiative earns international plaudits

International public opinion has been hugely positive with regard to the nation’s initiative to set up a national vaccine fund as is part of the country’s efforts to effectively cope with the impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The fund was officially inaugurated on June 5 with an aim of mobilising social resources to facilitate the purchase and importation of vaccines, along with the research and production of domestically-manufactured ones.

Nikkei Asia has recently reported that the establishment of the fund will play a major role in financing the vaccination drive, a crucial weapon in the country's ongoing battle against pandemic whilst simultaneously protecting manufacturing supply chains.

According to details given by Nikkei Asia, European businesses are also keen to contribute to the fund.

The publication quotes Alain Cany, chairman of the European Chamber of Commerce (EuroCham) in Vietnam, as saying, “this is a very positive move, not just for European business but for Vietnam as a whole.”

Furthermore, Mary Tarnowka, executive director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (AmCham Vietnam), said that many members of AmCham Vietnam have indicated a willingness to help pay the cost of vaccinating their employees.

Representatives of various international organisations in the nation have also lauded the initiative.

Dr. Kidong Park, representative of the WHO in Vietnam, said the mobilization drive by the Vietnamese Government to improve access to COVID-19 vaccines is being carried out in a timely manner and in line with the global vaccine initiative.

The Government has therefore managed to use donations from individuals and private firms, with this expected to result in new values for the strategy to fight the impact of the pandemic, he added.

Moreover, Kamal Malhotra, resident coordinator of the UN in Vietnam, affirmed that the initiative has received support from the UN over recent months.

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

For her part, Caitlin Wiesen, resident representative of the UNDP in Vietnam, expressed her belief that people from all walks of life, especially businesses, will respond positively to the Government’s call and make contributions to the newly-established fund.

Through donations to the fund, Vietnamese communities based in Laos, Cambodia, Russia, Switzerland, Germany, Australia, and Egypt have showed their solidarity and responsibility in sharing difficulties faced by people in the homeland in the ongoing fight against the pandemic.

Moving forward, the nation is projected to require 150 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to inject roughly 75 million people at an estimated cost of VND25.2 trillion.

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