Vietnam Receives Refrigerators From The US to Preserve Pfizer Vaccines

The first of 111 deep freezers for medical use provided by the US Department of Defense to the Vietnamese Government with a total value of about US$1 million were handed over on October 12.

Tarah Nguyen

thuyhang.vietnamtimes@gmail.com October 13, 2021 | 07:45

Interim Chargé d'Affaires of the US Embassy, Christopher Klein presents the symbolic sign to Deputy Minister of Health Truong Quoc Cuong - Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

U.S. Mission Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., Christopher Klein presents the symbolic sign to Deputy Minister of Health Truong Quoc Cuong - Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

On October 12, at the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE), the US representative handed over 77 refrigerators to the Vietnamese Ministry of Health as an assistance of Vietnam in storing Covid-19 vaccines.

The U.S. Embassy in Hanoi announced the following on their Facebook:

It’s a super cold sign of a very warm friendship!

The United States is donating 111 ultra-low temperature freezers to Vietnam to help vaccine distribution throughout the country. U.S. Mission Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., Christopher Klein handed over the first 36 freezers on October 12 to the Ministry of Health at the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, with the remaining 75 to follow later this month. Fourteen larger units will stay in Hanoi to improve national and regional distribution capacity for COVID-19 vaccines requiring ultra-cold storage, like the 3.1 million Pfizer vaccines that arrived from the United States via COVAX over the past 10 days. The rest will provide storage at the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City and for each province. Together, we will win the fight against COVID-19.

Interim Chargé d'affaires, Christopher Klein chats with Dr. Dang Duc Anh - Director of the Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology - Photo: US Embassy

U.S. Mission Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., Christopher Klein talks to Dr. Dang Duc Anh - Director of the Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology - Photo: US Embassy

Out of the 77 deep freezers donated under the original plan, 14 will be kept at NIHE for central distribution of vaccines and other 63 will be delivered to regional distribution centers across the country. In addition, the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City also offered to be supported 34 more cabinets.

Receiving more of these deep freezers will help Vietnam significantly improve its capacity and flexibility in distributing and storing Covid-19 vaccines nationwide.

Speaking at the reception ceremony, Deputy Minister of Health Truong Quoc Cuong expressed his deep gratitude and appreciated the timely and effective support of the US Government for Vietnam over the past time. The Ministry of Health will urgently distribute these refrigerators to localities to ensure quality and timely prevent epidemics.

Vietnam Receives Refrigerators From The US to Preserve Pfizer Vaccines

This type of deep freezer can reach temperatures from minus 40 degrees Celsius to minus 90 degrees Celsius, suitable for vaccines stored in extremely low temperature environments. Photo: Tuoitre

Mr. Cuong emphasized: "Currently, a lot of vaccines are coming to Vietnam, but Vietnam is lacking vaccine storages and preservation equipment. Therefore, the US's gift of deep freezers to Vietnam is extremely meaningful and practical.The Ministry of Health will distribute these devices to localities as soon as possible." Deputy Minister of Health Truong Quoc Cuong also said: "The COVID-19 pandemic has caused great loss of life and property to Vietnam. Vietnam is also gradually reopening its economy, and the help of the US during the past time, with more than 9.5 million doses of vaccines and medical equipment, will be a great encouragement for Vietnam to overcome the pandemic soon."

Interim Chargé d'Affaires of the US Embassy, Christopher Klein and Deputy Minister of Health Truong Quoc Cuong - Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

U.S. Mission Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., Christopher Klein and Deputy Minister of Health Truong Quoc Cuong - Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

U.S. Mission Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., Christopher Klein affirms that the US is always ready to support Vietnam to overcome the difficulties of the Covid-19 pandemic; At the same time, the US will continue to support Southeast Asia as well as the world to access more vaccines to fight the disease. Up to now, the US Government through the COVAX mechanism has supported Vietnam with 8.5 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine, including 5 million doses of Moderna vaccine and 3.5 million doses of Pfizer vaccine; at the same time, direct aid to Vietnam 1 million doses of Pfizer, 77 deep freezers to preserve vaccines.

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