Cambodia vaccinates 1 mln people against COVID-19: health spokeswoman

2021-04-12 10:05:29 GMT2021-04-12 18:05:29(Beijing Time) Xinhua English

PHNOM PENH, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia has vaccinated 1 million out of its 16 million population against the COVID-19 so far, Health Ministry's secretary of state and spokeswoman Or Vandine said here on Monday.

Panh Savannarith, a 36-year-old Phnom Penh resident, was the 1,000,000th person to be vaccinated, she said, adding that Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen provided the grant of 5 million riels (1,250 U.S. dollars) to Sovannrith for being the 1,000,000th vaccine recipient.

Speaking to reporters after delivering the cash grant to Savannarith, Vandine urged people to go for vaccination when their turns come in order to protect themselves from severe illness and hospitalization.

"Vaccine serves as a booster that strengthens our immune response. The vaccine, along with other health guidelines, will save our lives from this highly contagious disease," she said.

Meanwhile, the spokeswoman called on people to stay home during the upcoming Khmer New Year on April 14-16 in order to help curb the virus spread.

The Southeast Asian nation has so far logged a total of 4,515 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 30 deaths, the Ministry of Health said in a statement on Monday.

Cambodia launched an anti-COVID-19 inoculation drive on Feb. 10, focusing on high risk and vulnerable groups such as frontline doctors and health workers, civil servants, teachers, armed forces, journalists, garbage collectors and garment factory workers, among others.

By the end of March, the kingdom had acquired more than 3.1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines. The country is expected to receive 8 million more doses in phases between April and August, Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said on Saturday, adding that the kingdom is targeting to inoculate at least 10 million of the population. Enditem

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