Ministry of Health spokeswoman Or Vandine said the number of Covid-19 vaccine boosters administered had increased significantly since the start of the campaign by the ministries of Health and National Defence.
Vandine, who is also head of the national Covid-19 vaccination committee, said this while inspecting vaccination work in Svay Rieng province on May 1.
“The vaccination process has gained momentum, and what I have noticed is that people also felt that this campaign made it easier for them because they did not need to go get booster shots at the vaccination sites at public health departments as previously organised,” she said.
“I would like to call on all people – do not hesitate to get this third vaccination, as it is an obligation. It is an obligation for people to participate. It is not an obligation due to punishment. It is the responsibility of individuals to contribute to building, strengthening and increasing the protection of each individual’s antibodies,” she added.
The health ministry will also consider setting another goal for the Covid-19 vaccination campaign after the targets for vaccinations at the factories, markets and schools have been completed.
“We’re not doing just three targets. Once we have these three targets covered, we will head to others to cover those who didn’t get their boosters yet. This will be another phase of the work we do together,” she said.
Vandine added that vaccination teams would look into the possibility of having village and commune chiefs schedule a vaccination day for the local people.
Ith Sarath, deputy commander-in-chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces who oversees the military’s vaccination efforts, inspected the administering of third and fourth doses to residents and workers in Kandal and Kampong Speu provinces on April 29.
He said the booster vaccination campaigns in the provinces were going well and providing the military medics with more experience administering AstraZeneca vaccines that will help with efficiency when they give them to residents in other provinces.
“In order to accomplish the plan of the government, our medical teams have worked very hard. Our medics in the army have administered vaccinations to soldiers and their family members and to the public as well without any time off,” he said.
Despite Covid-19 infections being on the decline in Cambodia, Sarath called on everyone to get a two-dose course of vaccines and at least one booster shot.
