More donations come to COVID-19 fight

Nearly VND3.5 trillion (US$151.93 million) has been raised for the fight against COVID-19 via the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) and the Ministry of Health since May 1.

Vietnam has established the COVID-19 fund aiming to mobilise resources for the national vaccination drive

The VFF Central Committee on June 1 received donations from many agencies, organisations and individuals at home and abroad, with the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) contributing VND 450 million.

VNA Deputy General Director Dinh Dang Quang expressed his hope that the agency’s donation will contribute to efforts by the Party, State and Government in the pandemic combat.

The Association of Vietnamese in Macau (China) contributed VND131.7 million, the Ministry of Home Affairs, VND456 million; and the Ministry of Finance, VND1 billion.

Meanwhile, the COVID-19 vaccine fund had received more than VND28 billion donated by organisations and individuals as of 4 pm on June 1, the State Treasury of Vietnam said.

Vo Thanh Hung, head of the State Budget Department under the finance ministry, said the Ministry of Health had estimated that Vietnam needs 150 million vaccine doses to inoculate around 75% of its population, with total cost amounting to some VND25.2 trillion.

The huge cost requires contributions by organisations and individuals at home and abroad, apart from the State budget, he stressed.

The fund is set up to receive, manage, and use donations and assistance from domestic and foreign organisations and individuals, along with other legal sources, for COVID-19 vaccine procurement and import, research and production in the country, and the provision of vaccines for people.