The second batch of COVID-19 vaccines arrives at Noi Bai airport today 16 May 2021 (Photo credit: UNICEF Viet Nam)
Hanoi, 16th May 2021 – Viet Nam received today the second shipment of 1,682,400 COVID-19 vaccine doses from the COVAX Facility.
This delivery of the vaccines comes in addition to a first batch delivered in April 2021 and is part of the 4.1 million vaccine doses committed to Viet Nam, free of charge, by the COVAX Facility, the international partnership co-led by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness and Innovations (CEPI), GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF as a delivery partner.
Since the arrival of the first shipment of vaccines from COVAX in April, more than 816,000 COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in Viet Nam, mainly to health workers and other frontline workers. This new shipment will help the Ministry of Health to expand coverage and reach more people from the priority groups, while also providing a second dose to those who have already received the first dose.
While the arrival of the second batch of COVID-19 vaccines through the COVAX Facility is a welcome news, it will take some time for every priority group to be vaccinated. Thus, it is essential to continue 5K practices to reduce virus transmission: wear face masks, wash hands regularly, practice physical distancing, stop gathering and fill out health declaration.
Background:
For several months, COVAX partners, CEPI, GAVI, WHO and delivery partner UNICEF, have been supporting the Government of Viet Nam in readiness efforts and the national rollout of COVID-19 vaccines. They have been especially active in developing a National Vaccination Plan, as Viet Nam is benefiting from the COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC). The AMC is an innovative financial mechanism to help secure global and equitable access for COVID-19 vaccines.
Notes to Editors
Full COVAX News Note to Editors: https://www.who.int/initiatives/act-accelerator/covax/covax-news-note-to-editors
List of donor pledges to the Gavi COVAX AMC: https://www.gavi.org/sites/default/files/covid/covax/COVAX-AMC-Donors-Table.pdf
WHO Viet Nam Page: The Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine: what you need to know (who.int)
Media contact:
Tran Thi Loan, WHO Viet Nam, Tel. +84-91-541-3814, Email: wpvnmmedia@who.int