Cambodia has relied on China to procure enough vaccines for the targeted 10 million people aged 18 and over and is now considering vaccinations for those under 18.

In a special address today, Prime Minister Hun Sen said Cambodia may inoculate people under 18 when vaccinations for the targeted 10 million is completed.

He said Cambodia had also sought to procure vaccines from other sources but now opted to depend on jab supplies from China as they are readily available.

“As per plan, we will have a total of more than 29.7 million doses, including seven million expected from [World Health Organisation-led] Covax and three million from Australia.

"But for the 10 million shots expected from Covax and Australia, we have set them aside as backup in our strategic vaccination plan," he said.

The prime minister said he had made the right decision and would welcome any criticism of the plan.

Hun Sen noted that Cambodia will receive a total of five million doses from two Chinese pharmaceutical companies this month – two million from Sinopharm and three million from Sinovac.

As of June 30, the Kingdom had vaccinated 41 per cent of its targeted 10 million people.