Hanoi (VNA) - Minister of Health Nguyen ThanhLong proposed that Australia, France, and Switzerland create the conditionsneeded for Vietnam to access more COVID-19 vaccine sources during separatemeetings with the countries’ ambassadors in Hanoi on June 8.

The minister thanked the governments of the threecountries for supporting Vietnam in its COVID-19 prevention and controlefforts, including assistance in providing vaccines through the COVAX Facility,which is currently its largest source of vaccines.

He emphasised that one of Vietnam’s priorities inCOVID-19 prevention and control is to achieve early and broad access tovaccines. Though the Ministry of Health (MoH) has been attempting to access allpossible vaccine sources, the minister expressed his hope that Australia,France, and Switzerland would continue to pay attention to helping Vietnamaccess more sources, he said.

The ambassadors lauded the effectiveness of Vietnam’sCOVID-19 prevention and control efforts and pledged to continue to cooperatewith the country in this regard.

The MoH hopes to use aid from Australia to buy Pfizervaccines for Vietnamese children aged from 12-18, and would like Australia toprovide more doses to Vietnam, he said.

Australian Ambassador Robyn Mudie said her country isspeeding up measures so as to provide more doses to Vietnam. Australia isproducing COVID-19 vaccines, she added, and expressed her hope that the countrycan directly supply vaccines to Vietnam in half a year.

Meanwhile, Swiss Ambassador Ivo Siebber said hiscountry is applying drastic policies on COVID-19 vaccines to meet domesticdemand while contributing funds to purchase 3 million doses for the COVAXFacility and providing technical assistance for developing countries.

The ambassador said Swiss pharmaceutical firms inVietnam have affirmed they are willing to support the country, especially inpandemic prevention and control and including vaccine access.

Long expressed his hope that Swiss pharmaceuticalfirms DKSH and Zuellig Pharma will speed up their vaccine provision to Vietnam.Zuellig Pharma has been authorised by Moderna to provide 5 million doses for Vietnam,he said, adding that the two companies will work with the MoH to identify thefastest way possible to bring vaccines to Vietnam.

At his meeting with French Ambassador Nicolas Warnery,Long said Vietnam hopes that the two countries will cooperate in technologytransfer relating to vaccine production.

The ambassador said France is considering Vietnam’sproposals.

He suggested importing the Johnson&Johnson vaccineto immunise the French community in Vietnam, with priority given to people over55 years of age.

Long supported the idea of importing vaccines innon-commercial form.

The MoH will create optimal conditions for enterprisesto import vaccines and immunise workers in French-invested enterprises inVietnam, he said, adding that it has sent requests to Johnson&Johnson andother vaccine providers about being licenced in Vietnam.

Administrative procedures have been simplified so thatthe MoH can approve a vaccine in 5-10 days in urgent circumstances.

The French ambassador pledged to work with relevantagencies to promptly provide vaccines to Vietnam and choose partners to conductvaccinations.

At the meetings, Long said Vietnam hopes to vaccinateall people against COVID-19, but due to a lack of vaccines, priority has beengiven to those in pandemic-hit areas and to frontline forces.

He suggested that embassies import vaccines throughnon-commercial channels to vaccinate their citizens in Vietnam. The MoH willprovide them with maximum support in the importation, procedures andverification, he said./.