A spokesperson for Vietnam's largest brewer Sabeco, who did not want to be named, told VnExpress that they were working with both authorities and distributors to acquire vaccine doses to vaccinate the 12,000 employees they have in 44 member companies.

Private conglomerate Masan Group has also said it is searching for vaccine supplies to inoculate 40,000 employees, adding that vaccination priority will be accorded to retail sector workers.

Vials of Nanocovax, a Vietnamese Covid-19 vaccine produced by Nanogen Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Company.

VinCommerce, a subsidiary of Masan Group, has sent an official dispatch to the government seeking vaccination priority for workers of its VinMart supermarket chain as "the retail sector is the distributor of essential goods", said deputy CEO Nguyen Thi Phuong.

It is also searching for vaccines from international suppliers so that it can vaccinate the workers as soon as possible, she said.

Many manufacturers of consumer products in HCMC have said they are working with the Ministry of Health to procure vaccines. Most enterprises are willing to pay to get their workforce vaccinated, apart from covering warehousing and transportation costs.

Nguyen Chanh Phuong, vice chairman of the Handicraft and Wood Industry Association of Ho Chi Minh City (HAWA), said the association was cooperating with some companies qualified to import Covid-19 vaccines into Vietnam to secure supplies. Over 80 companies in the industry have registered to buy vaccines for more than 45,000 people.

"We [HAWA] are rushing negotiations with vaccine suppliers. Enterprises who sign up early will receive the vaccines first when they arrive," Phuong said.

He asked companies to thoroughly prepare financing for the procurement so that inoculation can be carried out as per health ministry regulations as soon as the vaccines arrive.

The Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (VITAS) is negotiating the purchase of over one million Covid-19 vaccine doses to inoculate its workers.

However, Phuong of HAWA said enterprises face difficulties in acquiring vaccines because the health ministry has not provided instructions on preserving the vaccines.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam said at a meeting Friday that enterprises must be cautious when seeking vaccines to avoid being scammed. He said vaccine producers have only agreed to sell their products to the government, as of now.

Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long recently said the Ministry has provided incentive policies for localities and enterprises to seek Covid-19 vaccine sources, and will create favourable conditions for their imports, quality testing and licensing.

As of June 2, a total of 36 companies and organisations have been qualified to import and preserve vaccines, including Covid-19 vaccines.

EU Ambassador willing to help Vietnam access COVID-19 vaccine sources

Ambassador Giorgio Aliberti, head of the European Union Delegation to Vietnam, told President Nguyen Xuan Phuc on June 1 that he is willing to support Vietnam in accessing Covid-19 vaccine sources and vaccine technology transfer from Europe.

Vietnam hopes for more international support in accessing Covid-19 vaccines

Vietnam hopes to receive more support from international organisations and countries around the world to access more sources of Covid-19 vaccines, Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long told at an online meeting with representatives from the COVAX Facility scheme (COVAX) and health officials from a number of countries on June 1.

Deputy PM orders all-out efforts for import of Covid-19 vaccines

All possible measures must be taken and all obstacles must be addressed to soon secure Covid-19 vaccines, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, who is also Head of the National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control, said at a meeting on May 31.

Vietnam seeks US support for buying, producing Covid vaccines

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc has written to U.S. President Joe Biden, seeking help for Vietnam to source Covid-19 vaccines and research and produce its own.

Covid-19 vaccine fund raises VND185 billion

Minister of Heath Nguyen Thanh Long on May 28 received VND185 billion (US$8.01 million) in donations from businesses for Vietnam’s Covid-19 vaccine fund.

Source: VnExpress