The Ministry of Health has announced that Covid-19 vaccinations have now surpassed 90 per cent of the total population, while the campaign to inoculate children aged 3 to 4 began on February 23.
According to the ministry, as of February 22 vaccinations had reached 90.01 per cent of the Kingdom’s estimated population of 16 million.
The report indicated that Cambodia had vaccinated 102.29 per cent of the target adult population of 10 million; 99.76 per cent of the 6-11 age group of nearly 1.9 million; and 109.19 per cent of more than 300,000 children aged 5.
So far, more than six million people have received their third dose, or ‘booster’ shot, with over 860,000 having gotten their fourth.
The ministry also announced the launch of the vaccination campaign for children aged 3-4, with a target group of more than 600,000 nationwide.
Or Vandine, health ministry spokeswoman and head of the national Covid-19 vaccination committee, said the ministry had decided to vaccinate children aged 3-4 because research on the Sinovac vaccine suggested it was approved for this age range.
“That’s why we chose to use this vaccine for this group. The decision to offer jabs to this age range was made because the prime minister recognised the need for it. Omicron appears to have a 25 per cent transmission rate among children,” she said.
Cambodia has enough vaccines in stock for the campaign, she added.
Srey Lin, a 34-year-old resident of Phnom Penh, told The Post on February 23 that she would make sure that her four-year-old daughter would be protected against Covid-19.
“The biggest concern of any parent is the health of their children, and I am afraid of one of my kids getting infected because there are so many people around. I am very pleased that my four-year-old can now get vaccinated.”
Lin said her 7-year-old nephew had already received a two-dose regimen and planned to get a booster shot.
Rath Tola, another resident, said his child had been vaccinated at Kantha Bopha Children’s Hospital on the first day of the campaign and he was no longer as worried as he was before the inoculation.
He said that if a vaccinated child was infected with Covid-19, it would have milder symptoms and would respond faster to treatment than one who had not received the jab.
According to Vandine, as of February 18 Cambodia had received almost 44 million vaccine doses, either through purchase or donations.
