A batch of four million Covid-19 vaccine doses from the German Government has arrived in Hanoi, bringing Germany’s donations to Vietnam to more than 10 million doses.

Germany-donated vaccines arrive in Hanoi. Photo: UNICEF

The latest delivery, which was realized through the COVAX Facility with the support of the UNICEF and WHO Vietnam, makes Germany the largest European donor of Covid-19 vaccines to Vietnam not to mention medical supplies.

German Ambassador to Vietnam, Dr Guido Hildner said the new shipment is the continuation of Germany’s ongoing support to Vietnam to fight and overcome the Covid-19 pandemic.

“In 2022, Germany will continue to show solidarity with Vietnam in the fight against the effects of the pandemic and provide further vaccines through the international vaccine platform COVAX,” the ambassador noted.

He stressed the importance of joint efforts in coping with the pandemic. “We can only defeat the pandemic if it is brought under control everywhere. Therefore, Germany and the European Union support the COVAX vaccine campaign for fair and transparent access to Covid-19 vaccines worldwide,” Dr Guido Hildner said.

Rana Flower, UN Resident Coordination a.i. and Representative of UNICEF in Vietnam, shared the same idea, saying that global solidarity and generosity of governments who have committed funding to COVAX and those governments who are also donating vaccines help ensure vaccines reach every corner of Vietnam and the world equitably.

The vaccines donated by the Government of Germany will help Vietnam in its effort to reach all, including with the booster doses, she added.

Accordingly, this will reduce the severity of disease experienced, and protect hospitals from being overwhelmed in the context that the Ministry of Health is trying to ensure that all benefit from a booster dose as soon as they are eligible amid the threats by Omicron variant.

With the delivery of vaccines donated by the Government of Germany, Vietnam has received 51 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines via the COVAX Facility.

The COVAX Facility is co-led by WHO, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness and Innovations (CEPI), GAVI - the Vaccine Alliance, and UNICEF as a key delivery partner. In 2020, Germany co-founded the Access to Covid-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT Accelerator). As the second largest donor to the ACT Accelerator, Germany has provided EUR2.2 billion (US$2.48 million) to date. So far, Germany is the second largest donor of Covid-19 vaccines with 175 doses committed to emerging and developing countries. In 2021, about 100 million doses were made available.

Vaccination is one of the key measures for Vietnam’s fight against Covid-19. So far, more than 177 million doses have been administered, including 68 million people who are fully vaccinated in the country of 100 million people. In addition, almost all children aged 12-17 are double dosed to prepare for the return to school which is slated for mid-February.