January 16, 2023
PHNOM PENH – Prime Minister Hun Sen called on the media to encourage the public to make sure their Covid-19 vaccines are up to date, and urged the wider sharing of health measures as he warned that the virus still poses a threat.
Hun Sen made the call during his January 14 meeting with nearly 5,000 journalists, his fifth such event. The previous two years’ forums were suspended owing to Covid-19 restrictions.
“I urge all media outlets to pay more attention to helping people follow health measures and the latest vaccination schedules. This is more important than ever, as Omicron has morphed into the new XBB variants,” he said.
He suggested that the same attention be paid to any new disease outbreaks that may occur.
The premier expressed his pride in the Kingdom’s media outlets, as they have significantly contributed to the government’s efforts to bring the virus under control. Journalists were among the priority groups who were fast-tracked for vaccination in the earliest days of the health crisis.
“The media played a significant role in sharing the government’s plans and measures with the public, and I want to pay tribute to those who contributed to this important work,” he added.
Or Vandine, Ministry of Health spokeswoman and head of the national Covid-19 vaccination committee, echoed the call while inspecting the progress of the latest vaccination campaign in Koh Kong province.
She explained that the ministry is focusing on high-risk groups, including the elderly, the chronically ill, market vendors and students.
She urged the public to get their latest inoculation, whether it was the third, fourth, fifth or sixth jab.
“If your antibodies are reduced, you will be more receptive to the virus. Even as we speak, the latest variants, including XBB and XBB.1.5, are spreading through other nations,” she said.
She added that vaccinations are widely available throughout the Kingdom.
“As we learn to live with Covid-19, we must continue to protect ourselves. We should not underestimate the threat of Covid-19,” she said.
According to the ministry, as of January 14, Cambodia had vaccinated 95.31 per cent of its estimated population of 16 million.