Ministry of Health spokeswoman Or Vandine has announced a three-day suspension of Covid-19 vaccinations coinciding with the July 23 general election.
The pause, set from July 22 to 24, aims to facilitate the electoral process, allowing both health officials and the public sufficient time to participate in the democratic process.
“Covid-19 vaccinations will resume on July 25, with a team on standby to ensure that normalcy is regained promptly,” said Vandine, who is also head of the national Covid-19 vaccination committee.
Dy Rado, deputy governor of Oddar Meanchey province, which borders Thailand, said the pause would not be a concern there as most residents have already received their primary and booster doses.
“Given that our population in Oddar Meanchey has received their doses, there is no need for concern over the brief suspension as we gear up for the national election,” he said.
Long Dimanche, deputy governor of Preah Sihanouk province, said authorities will follow the ministry’s guidelines.
He noted that pause will not pose any issues since the majority of the population has already been vaccinated.
“The three-day suspension won’t cause any side effects, as the overall situation in our province doesn’t foresee a Covid-19 outbreak,” he said.
The ministry’s more recent report states a promising increase in Covid-19 vaccination rates. As of July 1, the percentage of the Cambodian population vaccinated, out of a total of 16 million, stands at 95.62 per cent.
