Leaders seek EU’s COVID-19 vaccine support
VGP – Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc has sent a letter to President of the European Council Charles Michel to seek the European Union’s support for the fight against COVID-19.
In the letter, President Nguyen expressed thanks for the EU’s support, including its donation of 2.4 million vaccine doses via the COVAX facility.
Nguyen emphasized that Viet Nam is in desperate need to secure enough vaccines for nearly 100 million population as well as medical supplies for COVID-19 prevention and control.
He called for the EU’s maximum assistance for Viet Nam through donating and sharing vaccines, transferring production technology, and providing medical equipment for COVID-19 treatment, and sharing experience in COVID-19 response.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh also sent a letter to President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen with regard to this issue.
Pham spoke highly of the growth pace in the Viet Nam-EU relations in the context of COVID-19.
The Government chief expressed his wish that the EU considers vaccine supplies to Viet Nam and lands a voice so that the COVAX facility would prioritize allocation of vaccines to Viet Nam and other ASEAN Member States amid the current complicated evolution of the pandemic.
To date, Viet Nam has received more than 19 million vaccine doses, of which 15,518,869 doses have been administered, with 1,486,425 people fully vaccinated.
The Southeast Asian nation is struggling with the fourth COVID-19 wave, with 297,920 domestic cases confirmed in 62 out of 63 cities and provinces nationwide, accounting for more than 90 percent of the national caseload.
The Government is making every effort to realize its vaccine strategy which lays emphasis on (i) purchasing vaccines as much and soon as possible, (ii) accelerating research and transfer of production technology, and (iii) getting people freely vaccinated in a bid to achieve herd immunity in early 2022./.
By Huong Giang
