A ceremony was held on Saturday evening to mark the debut of a national COVID-19 vaccine fund.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh addresses the ceremony at the Opera House
in Ha Noi on June 5, 2021. Photo: VGP

Dignitaries at the event include Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Vo Van Thuong, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Minh Minh, and Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh.

Addressing the ceremony, PM Pham said the fund was established to mobilize social resources for the purchase and import of vaccines as well as for research, development and production of domestic vaccines.

Though Viet Nam has been one of the most successful countries in the world at containing the COVID-19 pandemic as evidenced by low infection and death rates, the pandemic is still evolving complicatedly with new strains first found in India and the UK behind the recent surge of domestic cases in Viet Nam.

In order to bring life to normal, the Party and State set the goal to administer free vaccines to all people to soon achieve herd immunity, considering it as fundamental, long-term, strategic and decisive solution to get rid of the pandemic, Pham stressed.

He said that the consensus of the people is the key to get out of the pandemic and return to normal, peaceful, and safe life.

The Government chief urged subordinate levels to promptly create most favorable conditions for all individuals and organizations to make contributions to the fund.

As of 8:00 pm on June 5, the fund, which was approved by the Government on May 26, received VND 1,036 billion (US$45 million).

Viet Nam’s COVID patient tally reached 8,541 COVID-19 cases, including 3,310 recoveries and 53 deaths.

More than half of the national caseload has been reported in 39 out of 63 cities and provinces since April 27 when the fourth COVID-19 wave began./.