Vietnam is seeking for the supply of US Covid-19 vaccines amid thin global stock.

Vietnam's Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long and Dr. John MacArthur, Southeast Asia Regional Director of the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Photo: Tran Minh

Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long shared the news at a meeting on March 29 with Dr. John MacArthur, Southeast Asia Regional Director of the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Dr. Matthew Moore, Director of CDC Vietnam.

Long asked CDC Southeast Asia to support the sales of US Covid-19 vaccines to ASEAN countries, including Vietnam.

He said Vietnam is negotiating with different sources of Covid-19 vaccines and seeding up the domestic production of the inoculant to satisfy the local demand, which amounts to 150 million doses.

Earlier, the ministry said it was negotiating with Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, and Gamaleya for the purchase of vaccines.

US representatives said the US government has pledged an amount of US$4 billion for the global Covid-19 vaccine-sharing COVAX Facility. It also accelerates the production of one billion doses in India with an aim to reach the global immunity.

Meanwhile, the CDC has planned to allocate US$2.3 million for Vietnam’s Agency of Preventive Medicine, Department of Medical Service Administration, and four leading hospitals.

Vietnam began its inoculation against Covid-19 since March 8 with 117,000 dose of AstraZeneca vaccine.

Vietnam to set up national CDC under US support

Long said at the meeting that Vietnam plans to set up national CDCs located in the north and the south with financial and technical support by the US CDC.

Completing the CDC system is one of Vietnam’s preparation for coping with emerging diseases, he said.

John MacArthur said the establishment of CDC Southeast Asia Office in Vietnam is aimed to connect regional medical activities between the region and Vietnam.

He highlighted the importance of health security in each country and the whole world as the pandemics are boundless.

John MacArthur praised Vietnam for its experience in containing emerging diseases, including SARS in 2003 and Covid-19.

Last year, he affirmed that Vietnam is transparent in coronavirus data following some skepticism about Vietnam’s relatively low Covid-19 incidence, noting that there’s no evidence showing the country’s data is fabricated.