Vietnam PM calls for donations to help fund vaccine purchases

Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh is ordering government agencies and ministries to call for donations to the nation’s vaccine fund, according to a post on the government’s website.

Chinh’s announcement comes as a new outbreak hits the nation’s north and threatens industrial parks hosting suppliers for global giants such as Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. Chinh also called for tightening of budgets so more funds can go to vaccine purchases, the post said.

Vietnam’s finance ministry has proposed setting up a fund to speed up purchases of vaccines.

The health ministry estimated it will cost the country about 25.2 trillion dong ($1.1 billion) to acquire 150 millions of doses for 75 million people. The government has earmarked 16 trillion dong for vaccine purchases and expects another 9.2 trillion from local governments and businesses, according to the finance ministry.

Chinh called on government officials to create mechanisms to solicit donations from individuals, companies and organizations in Vietnam and abroad, according to the post.

Vietnam needs a “more aggressive” effort to implement the nation’s vaccination strategy, the government post said.

He also ordered northern provinces to put outbreaks at industrial parks under control by implementing mandatory health declarations for workers and suppliers, it said.

By Mai Ngoc Chau – Bloomberg – May 25, 2021