Vietnam to establish national COVID-19 vaccine fund
VOV.VN - The Ministry of Finance (MoF) has initiated plans to set up a national COVID-19 vaccine fund in an effort to ensure the necessary financial resources are available for the future purchase of vaccines for domestic use.
The MoF says that the fund aims effectively mobilise, co-ordinate, and utilise legal financial sources, including those from both national and international individuals and organisations, for COVID-19 vaccine imports.
The establishment of the fund is anticipated to meet the requirements of vaccine imports for their emergency use domestically amid the complex nature of COVID-19 developments locally and globally, according to the MoF in its proposal put forward to the Prime Minister for consideration.
In line with the plan, the MoF says Vietnam will import 150 million doses in order to vaccinate 75 million people against the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
It will therefore require approximately VND25.2 trillion for the fund, including VND21 trillion to be allocated for vaccine imports, and the remainder for vaccine transportation, preservation, distribution, and vaccinations.
According to the Ministry of Health, Vietnam is poised to receive 110 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from both AstraZeneca and Pfizer this year.
It is negotiating with other vaccine manufacturers, including Moderna of the United States, Sputnik V of Russia, and Sinopharm of China, as it strives to diversify sources of supply for domestic use.
The fourth wave of the COVID-19 epidemic has attacked the country following the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 cases in late April. Roughly 1,700 new cases have been confirmed across 28 cities and provinces nationwide.
