Phnom Penh (FN), Aug. 1 – Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen announced the decision to roll out the third dose to all Cambodians and use AstraZeneca vaccine as a booster shot.

The premier spoke at the start of campaign to vaccinate children aged 12-17 years old, held at the Peace Palace, Phnom Penh.

As AstraZeneca is currently available, the third dose roll out can begin tomorrow, 2 August, 2021.

“Anyone who has been inoculated with Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccine should use AstraZeneca vaccine as a booster shot,” he said.

Frontliners, including journalists, should be prioritized to receive the booster shot, which is approximately 500,000 to 1 million people, the premier underlined.

Samdech advised the distribution of the AstraZeneca vaccine to those frontliners at the Cambodian-Thai border, where the new COVID19 Delta variant is spreading. He also stressed the sufficient supply of the AstraZeneca vaccine for the third dose roll out.

The premier also instructed secretary of state of Ministry of Economy Vongsey Visoth to purchase the AstraZeneca vaccine through the COVAX Facility or contact the manufacturer directly.

Samdech also instructed the research sub-committee to study the kind of vaccine for the third dose for those who have been vaccinated with AstraZeneca.
=FRESH NEWS