Vietnam accelerates efforts to secure adequate COVID-19 vaccine supplies: Scholar
Vietnam is accelerating efforts to secure adequate vaccine supplies amidst a resurgence of COVID-19 infections in the country, said Dr Le Hong Hiep, a Senior Fellow at Singapore-based ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, in a commentary published on fulcrum.sg on June 8.
Vietnam is accelerating efforts to secure adequate vaccine supplies amidst a resurgence of COVID-19 infections in the country. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam is accelerating efforts tosecure adequate vaccine supplies amidst a resurgence of COVID-19 infections inthe country, said Dr Le Hong Hiep, a Senior Fellow at Singapore-based ISEAS –Yusof Ishak Institute, in a commentary published on fulcrum.sg on June 8.
Hiep said one of the reasons behind Vietnam’s low rate ofCOVID-19 vaccination was that the country suffers from the global shortage ofvaccine supply, like most of developing countries.
Although the Vaccine Corporation Vietnam (VNVC) placed anorder for 30 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine in 2020, the supply from thisarrangement has so far remained limited, he said, so is the vaccine supply forthe country under the COVAX Facility.
The scale and serious effects of the fourth wave haveforced the Vietnamese government to accelerate vaccination as a crucial,fundamental and long-term strategy to overcome the pandemic. Great efforts havebeen made within a short period of time to secure as much vaccine supply aspossible.
Rather than holding the government’s monopoly overvaccine import, Vietnam has encouraged all relevant stakeholders, especiallyprivate companies and foreign investors, to help acquire vaccines for thecountry.
On June 5, an initiative was officially launched by thegovernment to raise 1.1 billion USD from the public and the business communityto cover the cost of the vaccination programme. The initiative has attractedmore than 250 million USD in pledged donations after only a few days.
At the international level, Vietnam has worked activelythrough diplomatic channels to secure more vaccine supplies. For example, theUnited States has decided to donate to Vietnam 500,000 doses of COVID-19vaccines. Japan is also reportedly preparing to donate vaccines to Vietnam.
Thanks to these efforts, the Ministry of Health announcedon June 3 that Vietnam had secured commitments by relevant suppliers to provide120 million doses within 2021, including from Moderna (5 million doses),Sputnik V (20 million doses), AstraZeneca (30 million doses), Pfizer (31million doses), and the COVAX Facility (38.9 million doses).
Vietnam is also in talks with Russian partners to produceSputnik V vaccines in the country. With the NanoCovax vaccine entering phase-3trials soon, there is a hope that Vietnam will also benefit from domesticsources./.
The Vietnamese Government has responded swiftly to the COVID-19 economic impacts, which was supported by strong fundamentals, thus ensuring the economy’s resilience, said Asian Development Bank (ADB) Country Director for Vietnam Andrew Jeffries.
The Health Ministry announced 283 more cases of COVID-19 at noon on June 9, which comprise 82 infections newly detected in the past 6 hours to 12pm and 201 cases detected earlier in Bac Giang province but yet to be registered in the national statistics, lifting the national tally to 9,505.
The HCM City chapter of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) received 99 billion VND (4.3 million USD) on June 9 from organisations, businesses, and individuals in support of the city’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Vietnam has over 4.8 million people exposed to AO/dioxin, including hundreds of thousands in the second, third, and even fourth generations. Many live with severe disabilities, facing high medical costs and loss of earning capacity.
Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Hoang Giang reaffirmed that amnesty is a humanitarian policy of the Party and State, reflecting the Vietnamese tradition of compassion and winning attention and high praise both domestically and internationally.
Vietnam officially grants limited-term visa-free entry to high-profile foreigners whose presence is deemed beneficial to the country’s socio-economic development.
With support from the Vietnamese Association in Ufa, Vietnamese language classes for children have been offered for many years. Currently, 60 children of various ages are attending two classes taught by Duc Anh, free of charge.
Vietnam ranked among the top four countries and territories at the 2025 International Olympiad on Artificial Intelligence (IOAI), reaffirming its strong position in international academic competitions.
All 20 crew members aboard the Vietnamese oil tanker GT Unity were successfully rescued from a fire in the vessel’s engine room, thanks to the swift response of the Liberian-flagged ship Androusa and Vietnamese maritime rescue teams.
Describing Agent Orange as one of the most severe and enduring legacies of the war in Vietnam, Vietnam's former Honorary Consul to Belgium Joseph-Michel de Grand Ry warned that its impact – still affecting generations more than five decades later – could last another two to three decades.
Running from August 4 to September 2, under the hashtag #TuHaoVietNam, the campaign invites participants in two categories: “I Love My Country” video clips and “I Love My Country” check-in photos.
Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP, which took effect on the issuance date, introduces amendments that integrate the procedure for reporting and explaining the demand for foreign workers into the process of submitting applications for work permits.
With a tight 13-month deadline, the move is under a strategic and urgent policy to bridge educational gaps, train the local workforce, and shore up territorial sovereignty in some of the country’s most remote areas.
The parade and personnel send-off ceremony will officially take place on August 10 at the area surrounding the Statue of King Ly Thai To and Dinh Tien Hoang street of Hoan Kiem ward, with the participation of nearly 3,000 officers, soldiers, and local residents.
According to national technical regulations, AIS installation is mandatory for boats carrying more than 50 passengers. However, operators of smaller vessels (under 50 seats) in Ha Long Bay have voluntarily committed to completing installation by the deadline to enhance operational safety.
The activities include a Vietnamese language teaching training course for overseas Vietnamese teachers from August 13 to 28 in Hanoi, Ninh Binh, and Thai Nguyen.
Specifically, the ships will carry out patrols from 7am to 6pm daily along the main tourist routes in Ha Long Bay, with one ship permanently stationed at Ti Top island. From 6pm to 7am the following day, the mobile vessels return to Tuan Chau island to maintain a 24/7 on-call duty shift, ensuring constant readiness.
The Ministry of Construction (MoC) plans to open to traffic 208km of expressways of six key projects by August 19, bringing the country’s total expressway network to 2,476km.
As of July 1, a two-tier local government model started in 34 provinces and cities, streamlining administration but creating a surplus of public properties. If not promptly addressed, these assets could become a financial burden.
Whether they grow up to become journalists, diplomats, or professionals in other fields, these children can one day become bridges of friendship and cooperation, telling new and inspiring stories of Vietnam – China relations, said Ambassador Pham Thanh Binh.
A 21-year-old Indian tourist was successfully resuscitated and treated by doctors at Hoan My Da Nang Hospital after a near-drowning incident left him in critical condition. After three days of intensive care, the man was discharged from the hospital and has since returned to India.
In an document issued on August 5, the PM emphasised the need to stablise living conditions for people hit by floods, landslides, and flash floods in late July and early August in northern and north-central provinces, especially Dien Bien, Son La, and Nghe An which suffered some of the worst damage.
Although millions of Vietnamese were affected by AO, only over 626,000 individuals, including war veterans and their children suffering from dioxin-related conditions, are currently receiving state benefits.
Vietnam is accelerating efforts to secure adequate vaccine supplies amidst a resurgence of COVID-19 infections in the country. (Photo: VNA) 
