Deputy Minister of Health Đỗ Xuân Tuyên and Deputy Ambassador of Australia to Việt Nam Mark Tattersall inspect the COVID-19 vaccines being stored at the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology on Tuesday. — Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Health

 HÀ NỘI — The National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology on Tuesday received 7.2 million doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to be used in the national inoculation campaign for children aged five to 11 years old.

The vaccines were donated by the Australian Government.

Earlier, to support Việt Nam in vaccinating children aged five to eleven years old, the Australian Government committed to providing Việt Nam with more than 14 million doses of vaccine, including 7.2 million doses of Moderna vaccine and more than seven million doses of Pfizer vaccine.

Speaking at the vaccine hand-over ceremony, Deputy Ambassador Mark Tattersall said that Australia was proud to stand with Việt Nam in the fight against COVID-19.

Since the beginning of the fight against the pandemic, Australia has supported Việt Nam with more than 7.8 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to immunise people aged 18 and over.

Australia’s support helped Việt Nam quickly immunise people and be one of the countries with the fastest vaccination rate in the world.

Vaccination against COVID-19 for children will help protect them during the pandemic.

On behalf of the Ministry of Health, Deputy Minister Đỗ Xuân Tuyên thanked the Australian Government, people and the Australian diplomatic representatives in Việt Nam for their support in people's health care.

Tuyên said that vaccination for children between five and 11 years old was considered one of the most important works in the health sector this year.

By Monday, the country has given more than 1.85 million doses of vaccine to this age group and is striving to complete the immunisation for eligible children.

Tuyên hoped to soon receive from Australia an official notice for the remaining 7.2 million doses of Pfizer vaccine so that the Ministry of Health can actively set up immunisation plans. — VNS