Cambodia begins rollout of vaccine for younger children ahead of schools reopening

A campaign to inoculate children aged 6 through 11 against the coronavirus in Cambodia started on Friday in an effort to transition students back into the classroom safely.

“To protect children’s health and their lives is our duty because we want to make sure that once they go back to their schools, these children and their teachers are safe from COVID-19,” Prime Minister Hun Sen said during televised remarks as the country kicked off the vaccine rollout, according to The Associated Press.

The rollout showed top officials’ children and Sen’s grandchildren getting their COVID-19 vaccines, according to the news wire, which added that China’s Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines will make up most of the shots.

Older children were already able to get vaccinated, though it remains unclear when Cambodian schools will be able to reopen. 

According to data from the World Health Organization, the country saw 653 confirmed COVID-19 cases on Thursday and 657 cases the day before. Cambodia had seen just over 400 cases a day in late August and early September. 

At the country’s coronavirus peak in early July, it saw more than a thousand cases a day. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Cambodia has reported more than 100,000 confirmed cases and more than 2,000 deaths. 

Almost 72 percent of its population has been at least partially vaccinated, according to the AP.

Cambodian health officials have reportedly been directed by the prime minister to see if children as young as 3 can also safely receive the COVID-19 shot.