Vietnam Appreciates International Support in Fighting COVID-19 | Politics

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Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks during the ceremony. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on March 14, thanked foreign countries and organizations for their practical and timely support to Vietnam during the fight against COVID-19 over the past more than two years.

The Prime Minister, who is also the head of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Controlmade these remarks to COVID-19 Vaccine Appreciation Ceremony which saw the participation of representatives of United Nations organizations, the World Health Organization (WHO), 40 foreign embassies and vaccine producers in Vietnam.

Stressing the importance of vaccines in the fight against the pandemic, Chinh said the Vietnamese government has rolled out vaccine strategy, stepped up vaccine diplomacy, established vaccine fund, boosted import, research and technology transfer. of vaccine production and launched the largest vaccination campaign.

He pointed to vaccine supplies from Pfizer, Janssen and Moderna from the US, AstraZeneca from the UK, VeroCell and Sinovax from China, Sputnik V from Russia, Abdala from Cuba and Covaxin from India.

Nearly 40 percent of the vaccines Vietnam has received have passed through the COVAX facility, the prime minister said, noting that more than 30 countries have provided vaccines to Vietnam through the mechanism and the bilateral channel, helping considerably. the country to deploy its vaccination strategy and vaccination campaign. .

Vietnam is now among the countries with the highest vaccination coverage in the world, and the hospitalization rate as well as the number of serious cases and deaths are decreasing, according to the prime minister.

The country has shifted to safe and flexible adaptation and effective control of COVID-19 since October 2021, he said, highlighting achievements in socio-economic recovery and development as GDP jumped 5 .22% in the last quarter of 2021 and 2.58% last year.

Notably, international commercial flights resumed from Feb. 15, and Vietnam will fully open its doors to international tourists from mid-March, he said.

Chinh said Vietnam is always a good friend, a trustworthy partner and a responsible member of the international community, and the country supports international cooperation in fighting the pandemic.

Vietnam has provided practical and timely support to many countries in COVID-19[female[feminine prevention and control, while contributing to the COVAX Facility and the WHO COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.

As ASEAN 2020 chair, Vietnam has been striving to promote solidarity and unity within the bloc during the fight against the pandemic, the prime minister said, highlighting the country’s contributions to promoting equity and cooperation on vaccines in multilateral forums.

The prime minister pointed out that Vietnam being selected as the country to receive mRNA vaccine technology transfer would help the Southeast Asian nation produce mRNA vaccines that meet international standards to meet demand. domestic and supplying other countries.

Highlighting the difficulties and challenges ahead in the fight against the pandemic, he called for more international cooperation and solidarity and support for bilateral and multilateral initiatives to enhance equity in vaccines.

On this occasion, Chinh announced that the Vietnamese government will continue to contribute to the COVAX Facility.

He also called for greater assistance from countries and organizations in vaccines, especially those against new variants and those for children aged 5 to 12, as well as in reopening schools and improving health. capacity of the national medical system, in particular basic and preventive health care. .

Rana Flower, Acting United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNICEF Representative in Vietnam, praised Vietnam’s efforts in fighting the pandemic, saying the country is a model in this regard.

UNICEF and United Nations organizations will continue to support Vietnam in this area, especially the supply and production of vaccines, helping to bring a better life to Vietnamese people, especially women and children, he said. she promised.

In his recorded remarks, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also claimed that Vietnam is among the countries that have successfully contained the pandemic.

Vietnam is a model and a demonstration of national efforts and international support for immunization, which should be replicated, he said./.

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