COVAX Managing Director praises Viet Nam’s successful vaccine rollout

The COVAX Managing Director made the point during a phone conversation with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

The Prime Minister said that following their in-person meeting in Paris last November, Viet Nam has attained positive achievements in raising its COVID-19 vaccination coverage, becoming one of the countries taking the lead globally in this effort.

Viet Nam has obtained 213 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines so far, of which over 194 million have been administered.

So far, 98 percent of the adult population in Viet Nam have received two shots of vaccine and the country is striving to complete the administration of the third jab to the age group within this month. About 94 percent of children aged from 12-17 have also received two doses. 

Viet Nam is confident to safely and flexibly adapt to and effectively control the pandemic, and restore socio-economic activities, with full tourism reopening scheduled from March 15, 

Mr. Pham informed that the country is considering the fourth COVID-19 vaccine shot and has completed preparations for the vaccination of children aged from 5 to under 12 in a cautious and safely manner in a bid to reopen schools safely.

He took the occasion to thank the COVAX Facility in general and the Managing Director in particular for their support to Viet Nam, noting the country has received more than 53 million doses of vaccines from COVAX so far, and expects to get tens of millions more in the time ahead.

Viet Nam  always supports COVAX’s role at international meetings and multilateral forums, said the Prime Minister.

He also suggested the COVAX facility share experience with Viet Nam in vaccinating children aged 5-12, and help the country in mastering the mRNA vaccine production technology.

In reply, COVAX Managing Director praised the active steps taken by Viet Nam in the pandemic fight and especially the successful vaccine rollout, as well as its impressive performance in socio-economic development.   

She affirmed that COVAX would continue to support Viet Nam in accessing vaccines against new variants, giving advice in vaccination for children, and transferring the vaccine production technology./.