PM Hun Sen Orders His Children to Take Sinopharm COVID-19 Vaccine
Prime Minister Hun Sen on Sunday (Feb. 7) ordered his children to take the Sinopharm vaccine in order to instill public trust in the newly arrived Chinese COVID-19 vaccine. Photo: Thmey Thmey
- Phoung Vantha
- February 8, 2021 4:16 AM
While Prime Minister Hun Sen has declined to receive the newly-arrived Chinese vaccine, he has reportedly ordered his children to take the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine to show the public it’s safe.
PHNOM PENH--Prime Minister Hun Sen on Sunday (Feb. 7) ordered his children to take the Sinopharm vaccine in order to instill public trust in the newly arrived Chinese COVID-19 vaccine. This comes after Hun Sen stated that he would not be able to receive the Sinopharm vaccine due to his age.
Speaking at a press conference following the arrival of the first batch of 600,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine from China, Hun Sen publicly announced that his three sons: Hun Manet, Hun Manit and Hun Many, along with his sons-in-law, will take the Sinopharm vaccine to show the public it’s safe.
“I agree with the arrangement for the vaccination by collecting the children of high ranking officers. I have three sons, if they meet all the necessary conditions, then they will be vaccinated,” Hun Sen said, adding that young ministers, including Education Minister Hang Chuon Naron, Minister of Environment Say Samal and Minister of Justice Koeut Rith will organize to have their vaccinations broadcast live.
He went on to expand this order to all eligible senior military and government officials, as well as their children.
“If the parents are too old, let their children take the vaccination—[Defense Minister] Tea Banh’s son is the governor of Siem Reap, so let him come to Phnom Penh to be vaccinated,” said Hun Sen.
The Ministry of Health on Feb. 8 released its schedule for organizing voluntary injections of the Sinopharm vaccine, with dignitaries and journalists invited to visit one of the four designated hospitals on Feb. 10.
Senior ministers and government officials will go to Calmette Hospital, lower-ranking officials such as undersecretaries of state will go to Preah Ang Duong Hospital, while provincial governors will receive the vaccine at Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital and journalists can sign up to receive the vaccine at the National Children’s Hospital.
Hun Sen said that his government plans to vaccinate 15.55 million Cambodians.
So far Cambodia has identified a total of 474 COVID-19 cases and 456 patients have recovered while another 18 remain hospitalized. No deaths have been officially attributed to the virus.
