Vietnam says it is to buy AstraZeneca vaccine, in talks with other producers

An elderly couple wearing face masks as safety against the Covid-19 transport a cart of rice straw home along a national road in Quang Binh province, Vietnam. - Reuters

HANOI, Jan 5 (Reuters): Vietnam has agreed to buy 30 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine produced by AstraZeneca Plc, the government said on Monday (Jan 5), adding that authorities are also seeking to purchase vaccines from other sources, including Pfizer Inc.

The Southeast Asian country has previously agreed to get a Russian vaccine though also said it would not rush to secure vaccine deals, citing the potential for high financial costs and after managing to contain its coronavirus outbreaks to only 1,494 cases, with 35 deaths.