EuroCham Meets with the Deputy Prime Minister and Vice-Minister of Health to Discuss COVID-19 Vaccinations

On Friday 4 June, EuroCham joined other local and international business associations for a high-level meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Vu Duc Dam and Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Health Mr. Truong Quoc Cuong. The meeting was held to discuss the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and Vietnam’s plans to roll out a vaccination program.

Vice-Chairman Nguyen Hai Minh represented EuroCham. Speaking at the event, he re-iterated that EuroCham wished to contribute to Vietnam’s vaccination program through both financing and expertise. Regarding financing, Minh emphasized that this could be a partnership between the public and private sectors, with European companies contributing through covering the cost of vaccinating their own workers and their families. This could help the government to have a reasonable financial base with which to deal with vaccine suppliers in advance.

Regarding expertise: Minh suggested that companies could support the government’s vaccination program through their commercial operations here in Vietnam. This could include utilizing their logistics networks and storage capacities through to the administration and certification of vaccines. Meanwhile, the government could lead on prioritization list, taking into account companies in all sectors and industries with the allocation of vaccines made in a fair and transparent manner.

EuroCham’s Vice-Chair shared that the chamber has called a meeting with ambassadors from EU Member States to discuss the possibility of their sharing vaccinations with Vietnam. Minh also requested that the government finalize the protocol for vaccinated investors, experts, and their families; and enquired about Vietnam’s plan to roll out the mass vaccination program.