The Office of the Council of Ministers has launched an ambitious plan – code named “Blossom” – to build socio-economic immunity to COVID-19 in Cambodia.

The plan, entitled, “Strategic Plan for the COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign to Create Socio-Economic Immunity in Cambodia by 2021”, details a nationwide vaccination campaign which will start in Phnom Penh and then spread to the rest of the country.

Cambodia is online to receive an 7 more doses million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine from May to July and 2.5 million doses in August to September.

The Government aims to use these doses in “high priority” areas to create socio-economic immunity in Cambodia by 2021 .

The “Blossom” plan will consist of the following steps:

Step 1: From May to mid-July 2021: Vaccination campaign will concentrate on people aged 18+ who work and live in Phnom Penh and Kandal province. This is approximately 2.5 million people and will utilise 5 million doses of vaccine

Step 2: From mid-July to September 2021: Vaccination campaign will concentrate on people aged 18+ who work and live in 11 provinces, covering 33 cities / districts (Takeo, Kampong Speu, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Cham, Prey Veng, Sihanoukville, Svay Rieng, Siem Reap, Banteay Meanchey, Kep and Kampot) with a total of more than 2 million people and need more than 4 million doses of vaccine

Step 3: From October to November 2021: Focus on people aged 18 and over who work and live in 12 provinces, covering 12 cities / districts (Koh Kong, Oddar Meanchey, Pailin, Pursat, Battambang, Stung Treng , Tbong Khmum, Ratanakiri, Preah Vihear, Kampong Thom, Kratie and Mondulkiri). This is approximately 4.4 million people and will utilise 900,000 doses of vaccine

Excess vaccines will be used for Phase II vaccinations in high risk areas with widespread outbreaks, such as Sihanoukville and Poipet, – or in areas with high economic potential, such as Siem Reap, Bavet and Kep,

These campaigns may run in parallel to Phase I may also start parallel to the first phase, depending on operational concerns.

Other areas may start vaccination campaigns from mid-July to September, or earlier than scheduled depending on schedules and vaccine supplies.

The Office of the Council of Ministers stress that implementation may vary in scope and speed from the steps and schedules laid out, depending the amount and speed of vaccinations.

However, they emphasized that the goal for Cambodia is for high-priority areas is to be vaccinated by 2021, the sooner the better.

• Tags: 3rd community COVID-19 outbreak, COVID-19 in Cambodia