Biggest batch of AstraZeneca vaccine arrives in Viet Nam

The fifth batch, part of a 30-million dose purchase contract between AstraZeneca and Viet Nam Vaccine JSC (VNVC), is the largest so far. Previous batches were delivered to Viet Nam on February 24, May 25, July 9, and July 15.

So far, Viet Nam has received 3.1 million doses of AstraZeneca as per the contract, accounting for 37% of total 8.6 million AstraZeneca vaccine doses which have been secured by Viet Nam either through contracts, global vaccine access mechanism COVAX or foreign aid.

Nitin Kapoor, Chairman and General Director of AstraZeneca Viet Nam, was quoted as saying that the delivery in July represented AstraZeneca’s effort to back Viet Nam to fight against the pandemic. AstraZeneca accounts for 77% of COVID-19 vaccine source in Viet Nam.

He also promised to work with the Ministry of Health, the WHO, UNICEF, and VNVC to supply AstraZeneca vaccine in a fast and safe manner so that people would resume normal lives and reunite with their families.

As of July 22, over 4.14 million people in Viet Nam had received at least one AstraZeneca vaccine shot.

AstraZeneca was the first vaccine to have obtained authorization for emergency use in Viet Nam.

The Ministry of Health allowed mixing AstraZeneca shots with those of Pfizer/BioNTech should supply dwindles. /.

By Khanh Phuong