Cambodia will have vaccinated 81.11 per cent of the targeted adult population of 10 million and 20.52 per cent of the 12-17 age group of nearly two million by August 11 – or 53.25 per cent of the Kingdom’s total population of 16 million. Hong Menea
Three million doses of the Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine that Cambodia purchased from the Chinese pharmaceuticals company arrived in Phnom Penh on August 12, while another two million shots are expected to arrive next week or in the last week of August.
The government is also in the process of organising the purchase of booster shots from other countries.
Ministry of Health Secretary of State York Sambath said during the handover ceremony at Phnom Penh International Airport that the government has been successful in purchasing vaccines for citizens.
“Three million doses of the Sinovac vaccine arrived today, and the government still has another two million doses that will arrive in a week or two, bringing the total to 16.5 million,” she said.
According to Sambath, Cambodia already has more than 24 million vaccines, including the three million that arrived on August 12.
Cambodia will have vaccinated 81.11 per cent of the targeted adult population of 10 million and 20.52 per cent of the 12-17 age group of nearly two million by August 11 – or 53.25 per cent of the Kingdom’s total population of 16 million.
Cambodia has been lauded by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for its inclusive vaccination programme.
Prime Minister Hun Sen said on August 1 that all Cambodians would be administered a booster shot, while those who had received Sinovac and Sinopharm shots would get the AstraZeneca jabs and vice versa.
The booster shot is currently being given to frontline workers in provinces bordering neighbouring countries, especially Thailand.
Sambath said the national Covid-19 vaccination committee has held two meetings on the issue and is in the process of organising purchases for more vaccines for a third dose.
“We are working with our embassies in Japan, India and South Korea and also with the UK to procure more vaccine supplies,” she said.
“We are working on this but we don’t know whether we can get confirmation this week or next week. Our embassy will inform us,” she said.
Cambodian ambassador to South Korea Long Dimanche said on August 12 that purchasing vaccines from South Korea could be difficult as the vaccination drive there has faced delays. South Korea has only reached 40 per cent of the population for the first dose and 14 per cent for the second.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health on August 12 issued a directive to provincial governors concerning quarantining migrant workers, especially individuals suspected of having the coronavirus Delta variant.
The four-page directive signed by minister Mam Bun Heng said those who have had direct contact with Delta patients at the border have to undergo a 21-day quarantine at a centre along the border.
Those who have had indirect contact with Delta patients would be transferred to a quarantine facility in their hometown. Alternatively, they can take a 14-day quarantine at a centre along the border then a further seven days at the centre in their hometown.
“Set up more quarantine centres even at the commune level for those who have had contact with Delta patients. The centres need to have clean water, electricity, rest rooms, and better waste management.
“Each province has to prepare quarantine centres for migrant workers returning from Thailand based on the numbers provided by the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training and anticipate the possibility of extra numbers of workers who could return,” the directive said.
According to the directive, workers returning from Thailand have to be tested four times during their 21-day quarantine, three of which would be with antigen rapid test kits – the first on the day of their return, day seven of the quarantine, and day 13 or 14 of the quarantine.
A final polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test will be performed on day 19 of the quarantine. If a worker’s sample is confirmed by the PRC test to be negative, they can go home.
The same process also has to be carried out on local people who have had direct contact with Delta patients in the community.
The directive also instructs provincial officials in border provinces to appropriately manage the transportation of migrant workers by using ambulances for those who test positive, and buses or trucks for those who are negative. Vehicle drivers have to be tested every 72 hours.
While transporting migrant workers to an inner quarantine centre, drivers must not take a break at any crowded place.
