The Ministry of Health has said 94.9 per cent of Cambodia’s population of 16 million had received a Covid-19 vaccination as of September 14, with more than 10 million people getting a third dose booster dose. Heng Chivoan
A senior Ministry of Health official has said construction on Cambodia’s first Covid-19 vaccine packaging plant is to start in November. Set on an area of around 5ha, the facility is to meet the vaccine needs of everyone living in the Kingdom.
Secretary of state at the Ministry of Health York Sambath was speaking on September 15 at a press conference on the ministry’s achievements over the past five years.
She said the Ministry of Health had been working with Sinovac on the Covid-19 vaccine plant after an agreement between the Cambodian government and China.
“So far, the groundworks are almost 100 per cent complete, and when this is finished in November, the company will start construction,” she said.
She said the vaccine factory is located in Tuol Ampil village, in Kandal province’s Ponhea Leu district.
On June 1, the Ministry of Health, Cambodia Pharmaceutical Enterprise and Chinese drug company Sinovac Life Sciences signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in packaging Covid-19 vaccines.
Sambath said the new facility was to be built in accordance with international standards from Sinovac and with close cooperation with the Ministry of Health.
“This factory is for packaging, which means the company granted the right is one that has experience in the local production of medicines.
“The company has gained experience from Sinovac to set up the plant for packaging and supplying the vaccines,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health has said 94.9 per cent of Cambodia’s population of 16 million had received a Covid-19 vaccination as of September 14, with more than 10 million people getting a third dose booster dose.
The ministry said more than four million people had received a fourth, with nearly 800,000 a fifth.
Ministry of Health spokeswoman and chair of the National Covid-19 Vaccination Committee (NCVC) Or Vandine said further study on the rollout of a sixth booster dose was necessary.
Speaking at a press conference on September 15, Vandine said the ministry and the NCVC had yet to make a decision.
“Regarding any further booster dose, we need further study on the demand, as well as to look at the scientific case.
“So far there has been no advice from the World Health Organization saying we need a sixth dose,” she said.
Vandine said the Ministry is continuing to urge the public to receive Covid-19 vaccines on their turn and at the correct time to prevent serious illness or even death.
