Vaccine diplomacy is a key to realize Viet Nam’s vaccine strategy, according to Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. 

Addressing the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, the Government chief said vaccines play decisive, strategic and long-term role in the COVID-19 fight. 

The strategy, as the Government said, lays emphasis on (i) purchasing vaccines as much and soon as possible, (ii) accelerating research and transfer of production technology, and (iii) getting people freely vaccinated in a bid to achieve herd immunity in early 2022.

He went on to say that vaccine diplomacy is considered a key to realize the strategy amid global vaccine constraints.

The PM himself held phone talks with counterparts from 16 nations, sent letters to leaders of 22 countries and 10 international organizations to accelerate vaccine diplomacy. 

He asked relevant agencies to promote close and effective coordination to facilitate and boost vaccine production and technology transfer and grant of licenses for COVID-19 vaccines and drugs to be used in the fight against the pandemic.

Pham also took the occasion to stress the need for “speedy” tests for high-risk groups to detect infection cases and stamp out outbreaks.

According to Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan, 12 million vaccine doses out of the total 18 million doses received were administered, accounting for around 65 percent. 

Of the total figure, Ho Chi Minh City was provided with more than 4 million doses, nearly 3.6 million of which were administered, making up 88.2 percent. The rest will be jabbed from August 11-12.