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4 mln people in Cambodia receive COVID-19 vaccines so far: PM

June 29, 2021

PHNOM PENH, June 29 (Xinhua) - Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said Monday that 4 million people in the Southeast Asian country have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine so far.

So Soy, a 65-year-old disabled veteran from southwestern Koh Kong province, was the 4 millionth person to be vaccinated, Hun Sen wrote on his Facebook page, adding that he awarded the man 10 million riels (2,500 US dollars) for being the special recipient.

"Thank you China for supplying vaccines to Cambodia. So far, we have vaccinated 40 percent of our 10 million targeted adult population," Hun Sen said. "If there was no support from China, we could not have vaccines to inoculate even 200,000 people ."

[caption id="attachment_58711" align="alignnone" width="900"] A worker transports a package of Chinese COVID-19 vaccines at the Phnom Penh International Airport in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, June 8, 2021. (Photo by Phearum/Xinhua)[/caption]

Cambodia began a vaccination drive on Feb. 10, starting from capital Phnom Penh and Kandal province before expanding it to Preah Sihanouk, Koh Kong, Kampong Speu, Svay Rieng and Takeo provinces last week.

The country has three vaccines approved for emergency use so far, namely China's Sinopharm and Sinovac and Britain's AstraZeneca.

Cambodia confirmed 883 new cases on Monday, bringing the national caseload to 48,532, the health ministry said, adding that 16 new fatalities were reported, taking the overall death toll to 556. ■