Minister of Education, Youth and Sport, Hang Chuon Naron has requested public and private schools to encourage students aged 12 and over, staff and other stakeholders to get a third Covid-19 vaccine dose to prevent a new coronavirus outbreak, especially of the Delta or Omicron variants.

Chuon Naron in a January 7 statement told secondary and higher education institutions and teacher training institutes, as well as municipal and provincial education departments, to reach out to students – or parents of those who are underage – and advocate for the booster.

“I request Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen to further spread the relevant information to students, education institutions, teacher training schools, general education institutions – state and private – for everyone to get the booster shot,” he said.

As of January 7, over 14.28 million people aged 5 up had received at least a first Covid-19 dose, representing 89.26 per cent of the estimated 16 million population.