Vietnam government sets up working group on vaccine diplomacy

August 14, 2021 | 20:58

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Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 13 signed Decision No.1399/QD-TTg on establishing the government’s working group on vaccine diplomacy in an effort to increase the country’s vaccine supply.

Vietnam government sets up working group on vaccine diplomacy

The working group on vaccine diplomacy will support the acquisition of vaccines and production technology (Illustration photo: Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine)

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son will lead the group, supported by deputy heads Nguyen Minh Vu, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Truong Quoc Cuong, Deputy Minister of Health. Members of the working group will include leaders of the ministries of National Defence; Public Security; and Science and Technology, as well as the Government Office and other agencies.

The working group is tasked to seek, support, and accelerate negotiations, imports, and the reception of vaccines, medication drugs, and medical supplies for COVID-19 prevention and fight, as well as the transfer of vaccine production technology from bilateral and multilateral partners. They will also provide consultation and make proposals to the prime minister.

They will also hold regular meetings to assess progress on the works, and then timely reporting to the prime minister, and proposing appropriate measures.

The working group will also be able to invite ministries and ministry-level agencies for consultancy when necessary.

From 6pm of August 12 to 6pm of August 13, Vietnam reported over 9,000 new COVID-19 infections, including Ho Chi Minh City (over 3,530), Binh Duong (over 2,800), Dong Nai (808), Long An (623), and Hanoi (97).

As of August 12, Vietnam administered over 13,250 doses of vaccines, including over 12,000 getting the first shot.

Vietnam aims to procure 150 million doses of vaccines to cover 70 per cent of its population this year, according to the Ministry of Health.