Celebs support Covid battle

After the establishment of a Covid-19 vaccine fund, the Vietnamese online community, including stars and public figures, have shown their support by posting screenshots of their bank transfers to the fund.

"Now, showing off houses, diamonds, luxury bags are outdated. We must instead show off how many people we can save," singer Ha Anh Tuan wrote on Facebook.

Actor Viet Anh and his football club showed they transferred VND50 million ($2,181) to the fund, while singer My Tam transferred VND200 million.

"We want to contribute to the fund, following the call of our country. We hope our support will help Vietnam have Covid-19 vaccines early. Having vaccines, our country and people will be safe and return to normal," said singer Dang Khoi, after adding VND50 million to the fund.

Rapper Den Vau (L) and singer Ha Anh Tuan are just two of many celebs showing their support for the Covid-19 vaccine fund. Photo courtesy of Den Vau and Ha Anh Tuan.

Miss Vietnam 2010 Ngoc Han and TV host Hoai Anh also showed her contribution. Rapper Den Vau contributed an unknown amount of money, saying it came from his fans and the rapper himself.

Many netizens have done the same thing, showing their support for the Covid-19 vaccine fund, hoping more people in the country would get vaccinated soon.

The fund, set up in May, would accept contributions in the form of cash and vaccines from benefactors in Vietnam and abroad.

Managed by the Ministry of Finance, it will buy Covid vaccines and also fund studies into the production of vaccines. It will be audited by the State Audit Office of Vietnam and Vietnam Fatherland Front, an umbrella organization of all political and social groups in the country.

It is not yet clear how big it would be, but the Ministry of Health said Vietnam aims to secure 150 million doses of vaccines to immunize 75 percent of its population this year, at an estimated cost of VND25.2 trillion ($1 billion).

As of June 10, it has received contributions from 264,205 individuals and organizations, hitting VND4.25 trillion.