Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh during the phone talks (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - CEOof AstraZeneca Pascal Soriot has pledged to deliver COVID-19 vaccines toVietnam on schedule as well as increase vaccine supplies to the country thismonth.
During a phone talks with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh onAugust 19, Soriot said AstraZeneca will also do its best to meet Vietnam’s requests.
PM Chinh, for his part, spoke highly of AstraZeneca’s role and contributionsto the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in the world and in Vietnam. He affirmedthat AstraZeneca vaccines contribute importantly to driving back thepandemic across the world, including in Vietnam.
He suggested that the CEO instruct the acceleration of vaccine delivery to Vietnam along with the completion of a contract to provide the country with more vaccinesin September and later this year.
The PM proposed AstraZeneca discuss with other countries the possibility of borrowing or repurchasing the vaccines that those countries do not need at present, while stepping up the implementation of contracts on vaccines for children and those aged below 18, and those at high risk andhaving underlying diseases.
The Vietnamese Government always encourages and create favourable conditions for foreign firms to operate and expand operations in Vietnam in pharmaceuticalsand health care, he said, stressing that Vietnam wants to foster strategic,comprehensive and long-term partnership with AstraZeneca not only in vaccines.
It was the second time in a short period that PM Chinh has directly talked with asenior representative of AstraZeneca to accelerate the delivery of vaccines toVietnam, showing the Vietnamese Government’s high determination and drastic actionsto carry out its vaccine diplomacy policy and the Party and State’s consistent policyof placing the people’s health and safety above others./.
