The government has purchased an additional five million doses of Covid-19 vaccine from China to vaccinate the 12-17 age group in a bid to reopen schools, with their shipments expected in August and September. Heng Chivoan
Prime Minister Hun Sen announced on July 23 that Covid-19 vaccinations for the 12-17 age group in the Kingdom will begin on August 1.
Hun Sen said he will preside over a ceremony to kick off the campaign at Calmette Hospital in Phnom Penh and will bring along all of his grandchildren aged 12-17 for vaccination. He noted that other senior officials will also follow suit.
The prime minister first announced vaccination plans for children in a special address to the nation on July 16.
He said the government has procured an additional four million doses for the approximately two million children and adolescents.
“There is a need to vaccinate children and youths aged 12 to 17. According to the statistics provided by [Minister of Economy and Finance] Aun Pornmoniroth, there are ... around two million children and youths, so we need around four million more doses.
“I appeal to all parents and caretakers to get ready to bring their children to get the vaccines soon. We want to achieve herd immunity which will enable us to reopen the economy, especially schools which we have closed and permitted only distance learning. This is a loss for us,” he said.
The vaccination campaign for children will start with Phnom Penh and the provinces of Kandal and Preah Sihanouk, deemed as the country’s main Covid-19 hotspots.
Ministry of Health spokeswoman York Sambath told reporters at Phnom Penh International Airport on July 22 that the government had placed purchase orders for five million doses to vaccinate the 12-17 age group, with their shipment expected to arrive in August and September.
