Medical specialists (left) stand next to two lorries loaded with refrigerated containers ready to transport the vaccines. Heng Chivoan
Chinese ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian said on February 3 that the first 600,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccines donated by China to the Kingdom would arrive in Phnom Penh by special aircraft this weekend.
Wang made the remarks through an interpreter during a dialogue with doctors at the Preah Ket Mealea Hospital, presided over by Minister of National Defence Tea Banh and Minister of Health Mam Bun Heng.
Wang said that China had provided equipment and dispatched two groups of scientific experts to Cambodia to instruct local authorities and physicians regarding vaccination procedures.
He said: “Currently, although China has its own requirements related to Covid-19, the government has decided to immediately provide the first 600,000 doses of the vaccine to Cambodia. It is scheduled to arrive this weekend via a special Chinese transport aircraft flight to Phnom Penh.
“The ironclad relationship between China and Cambodia is very deep and recorded in the history of the two countries.”
The group of Chinese military scientific experts consists of four specialists who will train 300 Cambodian medical specialists with regard to transportation, storage and use of the vaccines and share related experiences.
“I believe that through these efforts, China will assist Cambodia in the vaccination rollout and work together to combat Covid-19. China will also help to restore Cambodia’s economy more quickly,” Wang said.
Four refrigerated containers and two such vehicles are ready to transport vaccines. After inspections, defence minister Banh told reporters that everyone had seen that these were preparations for the Covid-19 vaccine that Cambodia would receive from the People’s Republic of China in the near future.
“The most important thing is transportation and storage prior to vaccination. This is very important for this urgent strategic product, which Samdech Techo said is special,” Banh said.
He added that vaccines must be maintained at a constant temperature in storage so as not to affect its quality. The health department under the defence ministry is preparing to receive the vaccines, which will be transported from the airport to Preah Ket Mealea Hospital where plans for distribution will be determined.
“Of the first 600,000 doses of the vaccine from China, half will be given to the military, and the other half to the Ministry of Health. Soldiers will be vaccinated first, then their families and those around them. We will discuss this continuously,” Banh said.
The Chinese government announced it would provide one million doses of the vaccine produced by Sinopharm to the Cambodian government to freely vaccinate citizens. The first shipment will comprise 600,000 doses and will be followed by the remainder.
Health ministry spokeswoman Or Vandine said on February 2 that receipt of the vaccines from China was not a political issue.
“This vaccine donated by the People’s Republic of China is already progressing through technical reviews by the World Health Organisation,” she said.
By January 19, Sinopharm had officially produced 223 million doses for domestic and global distribution. The largest buyers to date have been Pakistan which ordered 88 million doses and Indonesia which ordered 60 million. Countries in the Middle East have ordered a combined 75 million doses.
As of February 3, Cambodia had recorded 466 cases of Covid-19 with 447 patients recovering and 19 continuing treatment.
