Cambodia’s PM draws praise over decision to vaccinate children

PHNOM PENH, Jul 17, 2021, Khmer Times. Prime Minister Hun Sen’s decision yesterday to allow vaccination of children from 12 to 18 years has drawn praise from various quarters, Khmer Times reported.

Minister of Education Hang Chuon Naron yesterday sent a letter to Mr Hun Sen expressing thanks on behalf of the education sector.

The Prime Minister announced yesterday that two million 12-17 year olds will receive vaccines in Cambodia before schools reopen. The first locations for vaccination of the under 18s would be Phnom Penh and Kandal, then moving to Sihanoukville and other provinces.

Naron said the decision of the government is a good strategy and creates the chance to reopen schools when the vaccinations are completed.

Hun Many, a National Assembly member, posted on his Facebook’s page yesterday that expanding the scope of immunisation for children and youth will not only revitalise society and the economy, but also pay special attention to the well-being of Cambodian children and youth who are the bamboos of society. At the same time, the decision of the head of the government will also enable the safe reopening of schools.

He noted that Cambodia’s vaccination mechanism has been consistently praised for both the effectiveness and speed. Moreover, the rapid acquisition of vaccines through both multilateral and bilateral mechanisms demonstrates “the great achievements of Samdech Techo’s talented and virtuous leadership on the international stage”.

Serey Roth, a mother said she is very happy that the government is allowing children from 12 to 17 years to be vaccinated and hoped schools will be reopened.

“I am so happy about this news. My child and other children can get vaccinated against Covid-19. They need to be safe too,” she said.

So Cheta, a 15 year-old student, said that said that she has been studying online for more than five months after 20 February Community Event and hoped she and other students could return to school.

“For along a time I have been missing my school, teacher and friends so much. I want to study in class at school as normal which makes us feel good and study better,” she said.