The virtual signing ceremony of a document marking the delivery of vaccines that the Chinese Government donates to Việt Nam. — Photo from the Ministry of Health

HÀ NỘI — A signing ceremony was held on Friday to mark the completion of the delivery of 3.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines and 3.85 million single-use syringes donated by the Chinese Government to Việt Nam.

The delivery was made in two batches – with the first one comprising 3 million doses of Sinopharm’s Vero Cell Inactivated COVID-19 vaccines plus 3.3 million syringes, and the second one comprising 500,000 vaccine doses along with 550,400 syringes.

The signing ceremony took place virtually between the Ministry of Health of Việt Nam – represented by deputy health minister Trần Văn Thuấn, and the Ministry of Commerce of China – represented by vice minister Qian Keming.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Vietnamese health official said that the Chinese Government had donated vaccines and medical supplies to Việt Nam in four rounds, which had contributed its part in the country's COVID-19 prevention and control efforts.

Thuấn thanked the Chinese Government and people for the assistance, which represents the friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

He also expressed his gratitude to the Chinese Embassy in Việt Nam which acted as a bridge between the two sides, providing support to ensure shipments to Việt Nam were delivered quickly.

Việt Nam, with a population of 98 million, has administered a total of 208.2 million doses of vaccines. Ninety-eight per cent of the adult population (people aged 18 and above) have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, with booster shot coverage at 50 per cent. More than 95 per cent of children in the 12-17 age range have been given two doses of vaccines. — VNS