VNVC to import 30 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine in H1. — Photo VNVC

HÀ NỘI — The Vietnam Vaccine Joint Stock Company (VNVC) has announced that it will import 30 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine from the UK in the first half of 2021.

A representative from VNVC told the Sài Gòn Giải Phóng (Liberated Sài Gòn) that the company has completed negotiations on the deal with AstraZeneca – a global biopharmaceutical business from the UK.

The AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine was co-developed with the University of Oxford. This vaccine is recommended for people aged between 18 – 64.

This vaccine gives high immunity, from 62 – 90 per cent at different doses.

Research shows that 100 per cent of people who were given the vaccine had an immune response to COVID-19 without noticing any problems related to the safety of the vaccine at different doses.

Supply Director of VNVC Vũ Thị Thu Hà said her company has made the best preparations to receive the vaccines and give injections to residents.

Donations to vaccine purchase fund

The Health Ministry received VNĐ21 billion (over US$912,400) donated by enterprises to the ministry’s fund for purchasing COVID-19 vaccines at a ceremony in Hà Nội yesterday.

The donors were the Thaiholdings JSC and the Liên Việt PostBank.

At the ceremony, Health Minister Nguyễn Thanh Long hailed the enterprises for their donation, stressing that buying vaccines is one of the top priorities of the health sector so that people’s life and other activities can return to normal.

The Party and State recognise the efforts and contributions of all organisations and individuals in the fight against the pandemic.

The minister said that Việt Nam has signed a contract with AstraZeneca to buy the COVID-19 vaccine, and the first batch is expected to arrive in the country late February or early March. By June there will be around 30 million doses of the vaccine to carry out vaccinations. — VNS