Australia and UNICEF to support COVID-19 vaccine delivery in Vietnam

Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Robyn Mudie shares information about Australia’s support for Vietnam and the landmark partnership with UNICEF. Photo credit: the Australian Embassy

The Australia-UNICEF partnership will provide a unique and holistic package that will assist Vietnam across a range of areas that are vital to the successful delivery of a mass immunisation program against COVID-19.

“Our support will help Vietnam purchase cold chain equipment to store and transport vaccine doses to where they are needed around the country, provide training courses and materials to ensure Vietnam’s health workers and officials are ready, and assist with the development of immunisation plans in Vietnam’s remote provinces to ensure equitable and uniform vaccine coverage”, Robyn Mudie, Australian Ambassador to Vietnam said.

Rana Flowers, UNICEF Representative in Vietnam stressed that introducing a new vaccine especially for COVID-19 is a colossal task for any government with many important steps involved.

UNICEF Representative in Vietnam Rana Flowers responds to questions from journalists about the challenges of vaccine delivery in Vietnam. Photo credit: the Australian Embassy

“Thanks to the partnership with the Government of Australia, UNICEF is committed to work with the Ministry of Health and other partners to support the introduction and rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in Vietnam. No one is safe until everyone is safe, so mass vaccination against COVID-19 is an important step to contain the pandemic, protect frontline workers who serve children and for Vietnam to reopen to the rest of the world,” she added.

The program will support Vietnam to reach the prioritised 20 per cent of population by the end of 2022 and set the foundation necessary for immunising the remainder of the population as vaccines are rolled out nationwide.

Funding for the program is drawn from Australia’s AUD523.2 million regional Vaccine Access and Health Security Initiative, as well as from Australia’s bilateral development cooperation program with Vietnam.

Australia has committed AUD40 million over three years to support Vietnam’s vaccine procurement and delivery efforts.

Song Anh