Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Fifth Covid vaccination drive underway as preventive step

Fifth Covid vaccination drive underway as preventive step

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
People get booster shots at Hope Hospital in Phnom Penh’s Prampi Makara district on June 8. Heng Chivoan

Fifth Covid vaccination drive underway as preventive step

With the global Covid-19 situation remaining uncertain, and a re-emergence of a large-scale outbreak possible, the government has identified providing a further vaccine boost to be the most effective preventative measure.

Or Vandine, Ministry of Health spokeswoman and head of the national Covid-19 vaccination committee, said the time was right for those who received a fourth Covid-19 jab in November or December, or January or February, to get a fifth.

Vandine confirmed that a fifth Covid-19 vaccination campaign for frontline workers and priority groups will start from June 9 throughout Cambodia to maintain strong antibodies against Covid-19.

“The fifth dose is to keep the antibodies against Covid-19 in your body strong. In the context of a subsequent transformation of the Omicron variant, there is an increasing need to maintain strong immunity in the individual and community in order to maintain the sustainability of the country and prevent serious outbreaks and further deaths from Covid-19,” she said.

Vandine said subsequent Covid-19 vaccine booster over the following years is also under consideration as an individual’s immunity sharply reduces over time.

“A fifth dose is appropriate at a time when we need to apply a preventive approach rather than treatment, with a combination of other preventive measures for everyone’s good health,” she said.

Meas Vongsa, chief of staff at the General Secretariat of the Ministry of National Defence, said medics would provide a fifth Covid-19 vaccination to soldiers and their families on June 13-15 in collaboration with Volunteer Doctors Samdech Pichey Sena Tea Banh.

Kandal provincial governor Kong Sophorn also announced the start of a campaign from June 9.

“The sub-commission for Covid-19 vaccination in Kandal province will start administering a fifth vaccination against Covid-19 to officials and priority groups from 8am to 5pm,” Sophorn said.

The provincial administration confirmed that for frontline public and private health officials, civil servants, provincial, town, district and commune administration employees, contract officials and hospital staff across the province, as well as people over the age of 60, the campaign will start on June 9.

For people aged 12 or older with a weak immune system, vaccinations will start from June 20.

Kampong Cham provincial governor Un Chanda also announced on June 7 a fifth Covid-19 vaccination campaign, which will start from June 9 at provincial and district referral hospitals and health centres.

“People who go to get the vaccine, please adhere to the health ministry’s guidance including the three dos and three don’ts’ to prevent Covid-19 transmission into the community,” he said.

According to the health ministry, the Covid-19 vaccination rate in Cambodia as of June 7 was 94.05 per cent of the Kingdom’s estimated total population of 16 million. More than nine million people have received a third dose and 2.5 million have gotten their fourth.

MOST VIEWED

  • 12th Cambodia int’l film festival to see return of Hollywood star

    Phnom Penh is set to come alive with the magic of cinema as the highly anticipated 12th Cambodia International Film Festival (CIFF) takes centre stage. Boasting an impressive line-up of 188 films from 23 countries, including captivating shorts, feature films, documentaries and animation, the festival promises an

  • Bareknuckle champion wants Kun Khmer fighter

    Dave Leduc, who is the current openweight Lethwei boxing champion in Myanmar, has announced that he will travel to Cambodia this year to challenge SEA Games gold medallist Prum Samnang any time that is convenient, after their planned match later this month in Slovakia was

  • Struggling Battambang artist dreams of staging full-scale gallery exhibition

    Leav Kimchhoth, a 55-year-old artist from Battambang province, is a familiar face to locals and tourists alike on the streets of the riverside in Phnom Penh. The one-armed painter and illustrator often hawks his work near the night market on weekends and public holidays. He

  • Fresh Covid warnings as Thai hospital fills

    A senior health official reminds the public to remain vigilant, as neighbouring countries experience an increase in Covid-19 cases, with the latest surge appearing to be a result of the Omicron XBB.1.5 sub-variant. Or Vandine, secretary of state and spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health,

  • New Law on Taxation comes into effect

    Cambodia has enacted the eagerly-awaited new Law on Taxation, which aims to improve the national tax regime’s compliance with present and future international standards and economic conditions; encourage accountability, effectiveness and transparency in the collection process; and promote investment in the Kingdom. King Norodom

  • Five-year-old Hanuman dances his way into hearts of Cambodia

    A young talent from a new-established settlement has emerged, captivating the online world with his mesmerising performances of the traditional Cambodian monkey dance. Roeun Kakada is a five-year-old prodigy who has taken the social media sphere by storm with his exceptional dance skills and dedication