Prime Minister Hun Sen said there had been tremendous, immediate support from the public after the government announced that it would begin buying Covid-19 vaccines.

In a Facebook post in the late evening of December 8, Hun Sen said donations had risen to more than $30 million.

The prime minister said supporters had written to express their solidarity with government efforts while others made donations under the slogan “the shield to safeguard people’s health”.

“There are still many more people who want to donate. I have assigned Seng Tieng, secretary of state at the Council of Ministers, to facilitate these contributions via phone at 012 961 971 and ABA Bank with the account 001249176,” he said.

On the evening of December 7, Hun Sen addressed the Committee for Combating Covid-19, saying that vaccination priority should be assigned to people who are at the greatest risk.

In a recorded message, he said: “I propose that doctors should be the first to receive the vaccine because they are on the front-lines facing danger.

“Later, we must provide it to our teachers, who number as many as 130,000. Members of the armed forces, police and prison officials will be provided vaccines because these people all face a high risk,” he said.

Others with priority include officials from forest, fisheries and environment departments and court officials including judges, prosecutors and lawyers since they must make regular contact with many members of the public.

Hun Sen estimated this would account for 80 per cent of available vaccines in the first phase, leaving approximately another 100,000 two-step treatments available for distribution at the Ministry of Health’s discretion. In a second procurement phase, the government will purchase more stock as well as conferring with development partners for additional aid.

“We will continue to consider which groups to inject first, and which to do next. Vaccinations will be given to students studying at state and private universities and at vocational training schools. Injections will be given to construction workers and others in cities. Later, we will discuss further distribution,” he said.

Hun Sen noted that some vaccines being brought to market will require super-cold storage, between -30 and -80 degrees Celsius, depending on the product. To meet these conditions, he said a vaccine storage warehouse is warranted.

The prime minister promised an initial budget would be prepared to buy one million doses of Covid-19 vaccines to be provided without charge to the Cambodian people. With each person needing two injections, the first procurement phase would aim to vaccinate 500,000 people.

Potentially up to two-thirds of Cambodia’s population of 16 million people would ultimately be vaccinated, the prime minister speculated.

Royal Group of Companies Ltd president Kith Meng donated $3 million in support of the government’s campaign to buy Covid-19 vaccines. He said he and his family were honoured to contribute to efforts to save lives among the Cambodian people.

“We hope that the contribution will be of great help to our people,” he said. Donations to the government’s campaign have come from oknhas [national dignitaries], ministry leaders, public officials and the general public.

On December 8, Kem Sokha, the former president of the Supreme Court-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party, encouraged measures to contain the Covid-19 pandemic in conjunction with the government.

In a Facebook post, he said: “I congratulate and highly praise donors for giving their money with generous hearts to support the government’s efforts to buy a Covid-19 vaccine for the Cambodian people.

“I wish to encourage Cambodian people at home and abroad to donate in support of this cause. This is the solidarity of the Khmer nation, helping each other in times of emergency such as this disease.”

Sokha also called for humanitarian assistance from developed and resource-rich countries among the international community to help provide Covid-19 vaccines for the Cambodian people.