Medical workers prepare Covid-19 jabs in Phnom Penh’s Chroy Changvar district last August. Hong Menea
Prime Minister Hun Sen has ordered municipal and provincial governors and authorities at all levels to work hard to inspire people to get their booster shots as the Omicron coronavirus variant is now invading the Kingdom’s communities with at least 14 community cases detected as of January 10.
“[You] must work hard to inspire our people to receive this booster shot to ensure that our country continues to reopen despite Omicron invading communities.
“I hope all compatriots will join this campaign to protect their personal health,” he said in a circular on January 11 addressed to the governors and national Covid-19 vaccination committee.
He said everyone needs to promote Covid-19 vaccinations and strengthen the implementation of health safety measures to fight and curb the spread of Omicron.
He ordered health officials administering booster shots to speed up their work, emphasising that Cambodian medical workers right now have enough vaccines to administer them to all.
According to the premier, more than four million Cambodians have received booster shots, leaving an estimated 10 million people who have not yet received them.
“Carry out this work as quickly as you can and get all of the medical workers together to start a booster shot process. Pay attention and address this issue urgently,” he said.
The circular said that while the Covid-19 situation in Cambodia is mild and manageable right now, the government found that some people have not yet received a standard two-dose vaccination regimen and the number of people receiving booster shots was still small compared to the people who got their initial shots.
“Some people seem to be neglecting to implement health safety measures, especially the three dos and three don’ts, which could be a risk factor for another community outbreak of Covid-19 as Cambodia has already detected the presence of the new [Omicron] variant in the community,” he continued.
Hun Sen said he regarded vaccinations to be the primary means of protecting the Kingdom’s population and the government’s key strategy on the battlefield against Covid-19.
The Phnom Penh Municipal Administration said the capital is beefing up their efforts to provide booster shots to people. Governor Khuong Sreng said at a meeting on January 11 that 42 vaccination sites have been set up across the capital.
“[We] have set up 42 vaccination sites for booster shots and the municipal hall also plans to expand to more vaccination sites for third and fourth booster shots,” he added.
He said officials are also preparing to deliver masks to people in all 14 districts, each of which will receive 10,000 masks and each state-owned market will also get 5,000 masks.
