Australia has delivered a further 4.2 million Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine doses to Vietnam through an agreement with UNICEF and in partnership with Vietnam’s Ministry of Health. Three million adult Pfizer vaccine doses arrived in September in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and a further 1.2 million pediatric doses arrived on 24 October in Hanoi. Australia has now shared more than 26 million COVID-19 vaccine doses with Vietnam.
Five refrigerated trucks have also been delivered to Vietnam through Australia’s partnership with UNICEF. These trucks, which will be stationed at the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology in Hanoi, Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City, Pasteur Institute in Nha Trang and the Central Highlands Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology in Dak Lak, are an essential contribution to the COVID-19 vaccine rollout and routine immunization program, ensuring that vaccines are transported efficiently and safely across the country. The five trucks were delivered as part of Australia’s comprehensive package of support for Vietnam’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout. The package is also supporting healthcare worker trainings and communications campaigns and outreach sessions to remote and hard-to-reach areas, so that the most vulnerable populations are not left behind.
Australia’s Ambassador to Vietnam, Andrew Goledzinowski, welcomed the recent deliveries, highlighting Australia’s ongoing support for Vietnam’s COVID-19 response. “Australia has been proud to partner with Vietnam since 2021 in support of the national COVID-19 vaccination campaign. It’s great to see these recent deliveries—the vaccine doses will help boost the national COVID-19 vaccine campaign and the trucks will support the vaccine rollout and contribute to broader health system strengthening efforts,” Ambassador Goledzinowski said.
“From the outset of the pandemic, UNICEF has prioritized attention to ensuring safe vaccine storage and transportation particularly to the harder to reach areas of Vietnam. The trucks and the additional vaccines, particularly for children, are most welcome and timely and contribute greatly to the ongoing efforts to keep Vietnam safe from the COVID-19 outbreaks. UNICEF will continue to support Vietnam to ensure an adequate supply of vaccines, vaccination equipment and other medical equipment to respond to the fight against the pandemic, and to ensure catch-up and continuity of routine vaccines for children,” said Rana Flowers, UNICEF Representative.
For further information, please contact:
Nguyen Thi Le Trang, Australian Embassy at email: [email protected]
Nguyen Thi Thanh Huong, UNICEF Viet Nam at email: [email protected]
