Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam reiterated the Vietnamese Government’s resolve to speed up its national COVID-19 vaccination program in order to soon resume socio-economic activities and protect the public’s health. 

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam. Photo: VGP

Vu, who is also head of the national steering committee for COVID-19 prevention and control, stressed the point at his online meeting with Dr. Takeshi Kasai – WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific, on Thursday morning.

He suggested the WHO accelertate vaccine delivery through the COVAX facility to Viet Nam as well as transfer of vaccine manufacturing technology to turn Viet Nam into one of the vaccine production hubs in the region, thus helping the regional countries to access to vaccines timely.

Vu took the occasion to extend thanks to the WHO and its office in Viet Nam for their active support for Viet Nam over more than one and a half year.

Kasai highly valued Viet Nam’s effective management of the COVID-19 pandemic, saying that it came as a result of drastic leadership, effective communication, and widespread public support.

He spoke highly of Viet Nam’s approach to combine vaccine and preventive measures in the fight against the pandemic and to encourage public-private partnership in search for both vaccine supplies and production technology transfer.

The WHO regional director pledged to continue support and assistance to Viet Nam and consider the Southeast Asian country’s proposal to become a vaccine research and production center in the region.

Kasai thanked the Government of Viet Nam for having contributed US$500,000 to the COVAX facility, which reflects its contributions to the common efforts.

He also thanked Viet Nam for successful treatment of a COVID-19 patient who is an expert of the WHO./.