Six more provinces announced the launch of their Covid-19 vaccination campaigns for garment workers and people aged 18 and over as the national immunisation programme moves ahead faster than planned.
According to a notice made public on June 29, the provinces include Kampong Chhnang, Banteay Meanchey, Pursat, Kampong Cham, Tbong Khmum and Svay Rieng.
In Banteay Meanchey, provincial governor Um Reatrey held a meeting to review the vaccination plan in Poipet town that is facing high risks of transmission.
“The vaccination campaign in Poipet town will begin on July 1. We will inoculate all 60,000 residents,” he said.
The provincial administration has prepared nine vaccination sites and 15 medical teams to administer injections in the town.
The sites include the railway station, several schools and pagodas and in front of the town hall.
In Tbong Khmum province, Suong town governor Chea Naron also notified residents concerning the start of vaccinations scheduled for June 30 at five centres.
They include Preah Norodom Sihanouk Tbong Khmum Referral Hospital, Suong Health Centre I, Vihear Luong Health Centre, and Ponnoreay and Vihear Khpuos pagodas.
In Pursat, the provincial administration notified garment workers and residents about the vaccination campaign scheduled for June 30 through July 3 for the first dose and July 14-16 for the second shot.
It has set up three vaccination centres – the provincial hall, Sampov Meas Operational District Health Office and Pursat High School.
In Kampong Chhnang, the provincial Department of Health also announced that garment workers and residents from high risk areas in three districts – Samaki Meanchey, Kampong Tralach and Rolea Ba’ier – will be vaccinated from June 29. The department said it had received 89,788 vaccines from the Covid-19 vaccination commission.
“Residents and garment workers living in downtown areas in these three districts will be inoculated on a voluntary basis at 13 vaccination sites,” it said.
In Svay Rieng and Kampong Cham provinces, vaccinations began on June 29 for 14 days for the first dose.
The Svay Rieng Provincial Administration has set up 20 sites in Kampong Ro and Romduol districts and Bavet town.
The Kampong Cham Provincial Hall has prepared 46 vaccination sites.
“Residents aged 18 and over will be vaccinated against Covid-19 on a voluntary basis in Kampong Cham town and the districts of Batheay, Cheung Prey, Prey Chhor and Kampong Siem. Vaccinations aim to create herd immunity,” it said.
Vaccinations will also start soon in the provinces of Preah Sihanouk, Koh Kong, Kampong Speu and Takeo.
Or Vandine, Ministry of Health spokeswoman and head of the national commission for Covid-19 vaccination programme, said the immunisation drive has accelerated faster than planned as Cambodia has received plenty of vaccines.
“By the end of August, if nothing changes, we will have enough vaccines for 10 million people. It is moving faster than scheduled. The campaign could wrap up in October or by November of 2021,” she said.
Separately, Vandine also confirmed that Cambodia had detected 12 more cases of the new Delta variant of Covid-19, also known as B.1.617.2, in migrant workers returning from Thailand.
“So far, we have had a total of 22 cases of the B.1.617.2 variant. Of those cases, the Institut Pasteur du Cambodge confirmed 12 cases on June 25, seven on June 14 and three on June 4,” she said.
She noted that Delta is up to 15 times more transmissible than the original strain.
