415,000 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine donated by the UK Government arrive at the storage of the National Institute Of Hygiene And Epidemiology. (Photo: VNA) The batch of the vaccine was manufactured in the UK and donated by the UK Government to Vietnam to help keep Vietnamese people safe and safeguard against the risk of new variants, according to a statement by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
The Ministry of Health, meanwhile, said in a statement that the Vietnam-UK relations have expanded constantly over the last five decades and become important strategic partners of each other.
In the area of healthcare, the two countries have boasted an active and effective cooperation via governmental agencies, non-governmental organisations and British funds, such as Better Health, Fleming Fund, and Newborns. Cooperation focuses on various fields, from clinical trials, epidemiology studies, tropical and communicable diseases, to digital healthcare, personnel training, antibiotic resistance and others, which have greatly contributed to Vietnam’s healthcare sector in the long term, it said.
The Ministry of Health expressed deep gratitude towards the UK Government for its donation, saying it is very valuable and timely, given that Vietnam is accelerating the largest-ever vaccination campaign. The ministry also appreciated the UK’s contribution to the COVAX vaccine-sharing facility which enables equal access to COVID-19 vaccines to all countries.
Vietnam is committed to effectively use the donated vaccine, it added./.
VNA
