Lagging provinces pledge to complete Covid jabs on time
TWO of the three provinces that were singled out as lagging behind on their vaccination drives have pledged to complete the works as per the government’s planning.
Prime Minister Hun Sen last week mentioned Pursat, Kampong Chhnang and Tbong Khmum for their slow progress on vaccinations. He said the three provinces combined still had around half a million people who had not received their first shot.
Pursat deputy governor Ing Kimleang told The Post on August 30 that his province will complete administration of first doses on August 31, both for the adult population and the 12-17 age group.
He said that currently the province is providing jabs to the remaining adults and to migrant workers who just arrived.
“A total of 270,000 people aged 18 and over have been vaccinated and more than 70,000 in the 12-17 age group have been vaccinated,” he said, adding that there are around 200,000 adults who still require vaccinations.
He said those who are not vaccinated by August 31 can still get vaccinated at 49 communal
health centres across the province.
In neighbouring Kampong Chhnang province, there are more than 210,000 in both age groups who are eligible for vaccination. As of August, 30 vaccinations had reached just 58.32 per cent of those eligible,
according to deputy provincial governor Am Sophea.
He noted, however, that more than 10,000 people are vaccinated in the province each day and although this progress seemed slow, he said his province will be able to finish vaccinations according
to the government’s deadline of late October or early November.
As of August 29, Cambodia had vaccinated roughly 91 per cent of the target adult population of 10 million and 74.78 per cent of the 12-17 age group of nearly two million.