Viet Nam, and the world at large, is entering a more complex and unpredictable phase of the pandemic due to the rise of new, more infectious variants. Viet Nam is aiming to get the entire population vaccinated as soon as possible as part of the country’s strategic responses to the crisis. 

In an effort to realize the country’s goal of "herd immunity", the Vietnamese Prime Minister on May 26 decided to establish a COVID-19 Vaccine Fund and call on the people across the country to make contributions to it.

Chairman of the Da Nang Committee of Viet Nam Fatherland Front Ngo Xuan Thang (second, right) receives donations from VSK Group for the Fund.

Over recent days, hundreds of units, organizations, businesses and individuals across Da Nang have been active in making contributions to the COVID-19 Vaccine Fund in an attempt to realize the city’s goal of providing COVID-19 vaccines free of charge to all people living in Da Nang.

For example, more than 350 million VND were raised during a fundraising appeal launched in in mid-June in Thac Gian Ward, Thanh Khe District. The fundraising event attracted and engaged a large number of supporters who are local residents, police officers, members of the Veterans' Association, the Women's Union, Patriotic Prisoners' Association, schools, officials and civil servants, militiamen and businesses.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Hoang, the Chairman of Thac Gian Ward chapter of the Da Nang Fatherland Front, one of fundraisers in Da Nang said: “This was an impressive outcome given our donors have generously supported our appeal through the ward-level fundraising event as a result of public sympathy and support in these challenging times. I believe that the COVID-19 Vaccine Fund will grow stronger under full consensus among the general public in order to soon have enough coronavirus vaccine doses to vaccinate the entire population in Da Nang, and Viet Nam as a whole."

In a similar move, government officials and public employees in Hoa Thuan Tay Ward, Hai Chau district, have been active in making contributions to the Fund.  In addition, they have made donations via text messages sent to the National Humanitarian Portal on 1400.

Vice Chairman of the Da Nang Fatherland Front Committee Duong Dinh Lieu said that the nationwide COVID-19 Vaccine fundraising campaign launched by the Vietnamese Prime Minister and Viet Nam Fatherland Front Central Committee has received active support from people from all walks of life who are willing to make a small contribution for the country's success in keeping COVID-19 transmission rates under control. They are pensioners, children, residents living in both urban and rural areas, workers, officials, civil servants  who are willing to unite and work together for the country’s success in combating the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mrs Le Thi Phuoc, 80, and her husband, 90, who are wounded veterans, are among the most outstanding examples in Da Nang, and they had no hesitation in donating VND 10 million from their savings to the Fund. 

Besides, members of an Environmental Kids Club in Thuan Phuoc Ward, Hai Chau District, aged 6 to 15, donated VND 2 million to the Fund from their raised money by selling recycled items which have been collected from household waste around their residential settings.  

Members of an Environmental Kids Club (middle) hand over their small cash donations to the COVID-19 Vaccine Fund. Photo: LAM PHUONG

In an attempt to pursue its dual goal: fighting COVID-19 along with driving economic growth, Da Nang is giving top priority to shielding and protecting workers from the deadly virus as they have an important role to play in achieving the sustainable development goals of their companies, and the city as a whole. The Da Nang Labour Union and 11 trade union organizations together donated nearly VND 2.64 billion for the "Million doses of vaccines for poor workers" programme. In addition, the municipal Labour Union has also raised VND more than 740 million from trade union members, public employees, and business across Da Nang for the national COVID-19 Vaccine Fund .

Over the past 2 years, Da Nang has experienced many coronavirus waves and the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted businesses and the lives of people across the city. However, individuals in our community are demonstrating social responsibility and solidarity in the fight against COVID-19. Thus, we believe that we are now getting closer to the goal of reaching population-wide immunity.

Reporting by LAM PHUONG – Translating by H.L