The Kingdom's Covid-19 vaccination campaign for children aged 12-17 kicked off on the morning of August 1, with Prime Minister Hun Sen bringing his nearly 20 grandchildren to the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh to get vaccinated.

Cambodia plans to vaccinate approximately two million people in the 12-17 age group with Chinese-made Sinovac vaccines, in addition to the targeted adult population of 10 million.

Hun Sen said at the launch ceremony that vaccinations for children have been well planned as they are the future of the nation.

"As we know, children resemble bamboo shoots -- if they're spoiled from the get-go, then we won't have strong bamboo," he said, alluding to a Khmer idiom.

"Covid-19 has also taken a heavy toll on human resource development," he said.

Hun Sen noted that in light of this expanding vaccination drive, the government will consider reopening schools to some extent.