Phnom Penh, July 21, 2021 — Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, will personally welcome the arrival of Japan-donated COVID-19 vaccines at Phnom Penh International Airport this week.
As scheduled, some 1 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine, which Japan is licensed to produce, will arrive in Cambodia on July 23, according to the National Television of Cambodia (TVK).
In a message on July 13, H.E. Mikami Masahiro, Ambassador of Japan to Cambodia, expressed his strong hope that this donation will support the Royal Government of Cambodia’s efforts to defeat COVID-19 as well as help to relieve some of the anxieties of the Cambodian people.
To date, pointed out H.E. Ambassador, the Japanese Government has provided a total of more than US$50 million worth assistance to Cambodia. This includes the donation of medical equipment, the renovation of hospitals, support for infection prevention measures at the borders through international organisations, and equipment to properly carry and store vaccines. It has also provided a loan of approximately US$227 million, which is being used to provide cash benefit to people affected by COVID-19 and to strengthen the medical care provision system.
Cambodia has so far got in total over 16 million doses of vaccines through purchase and donations: 5.2 million doses of Sinopharm, 10.5 million doses of Sinovac, and 324,000 doses of AstraZeneca/SII (COVISHIELD).
The Kingdom has set to vaccinate around 10 million people or 62 percent of the total population against COVID-19 and the target is expected to achieve by November this year.
As of yesterday, 6,202,414 adult people have got their first jab, or 62.02 percent of the planned 10 million people, among them 4,195,934 have been fully vaccinated.
By C. Nika
