Vietnam calls on UNSC to promote equitable access to vaccine supplies

Minister Counsellor Nguyen Phuong Tra, deputy permanent representative of Vietnam to the UN, made these remarks a recent online consultation conference of the UN Security Council (UNSC), which was held at the request of the UK, France, and Tunisia.

Participants also heard various reports on the implementation of UN resolutions relating to COVID-19 vaccines and the pandemic as a whole.

During the course of the meeting, UN officials presented numerous reports on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in relation to the security, political, humanitarian, and socio-economic situation in conflict zones. They also looked at the efforts of the UN system to support vaccine distribution in conflict areas and humanitarian crisis, as well as ensuring vaccination for mission staff.

The member countries of the UN Security Council used the platform to discuss a range of measures aimed at implementing resolutions to ensure a fair and rapid distribution of vaccines in conflict areas, support for the COVAX programme, and steps which can be taken to narrow the vaccine gap.

Minister Tra underlined the necessity of ensuring that everyone is vaccinated, whilst also gaining access to COVID-19 testing and treatment services.

She therefore called on countries to provide financial support and supply vaccines for the COVAX scheme.

Vietnam emphasises the importance of long-term measures, such as preventing and ending conflicts, boosting economic development, enhancing people's livelihoods, and supporting economic recovery through debt relief and financial provision for development.

At the end of the meeting, the UN Security Council approved a press release which outlines the great importance of fully carrying out these resolutions and asked UN agencies to continue paying close attention to the implementation process.