The national commission for Covid-19 vaccinations has released a detailed plan for vaccinating children aged 12-17.

Prime Minister Hun Sen announced that the first vaccination for that age group will take place on August 1 in Phnom Penh at the Peace Palace of the Council of Ministers.

The provinces that will be the next to vaccinate children and adolescents will be Kandal, Preah Sihanouk and Koh Kong.

Vaccinations for this age group will first be given to the children of public figures who are deputy prime ministers or the equivalent rank; civil servants and contract officials serving at the national level; tycoons with the honouric Oknha; diplomats; UN officials; representatives of international financial institutions; international aid organisations such as NGOs and journalists.

The hospitals designated as vaccination sites are Calmette, Preah Ang Duong, National Pediatric Hospital, Kantha Bopha Children’s Hospital (Wat Phnom location) and the National Maternal and Child Health Centre.

Ministry of Health spokeswoman Or Vandine – who is also head of the Covid-19 vaccination commission – said in a notice on July 27 that the children from this first priority group will be vaccinated from August 1-18 from 8am to 5pm according to a detailed schedule that determines which ministry, organisation or group classification is to be vaccinated on each day at one of the five hospitals chosen.

Children of diplomats, UN officials, representatives of the international financial community, international organisations and NGOs will be vaccinated on August 17-18 at Calmette Hospital.

The full schedule – including government ministries – is available from the health ministry.

“Children of officials under the Phnom Penh Municipal Administration and children of all other Phnom Penh residents will be vaccinated at 42 locations across the 14 districts for first and second doses,” Vandine said, adding that the dates that those vaccinations will take place on are not yet scheduled but will be determined soon.

She also noted that the 12-17 age group requires a second dose 21 days after the first, and the second doses will be administered at the same locations where the first doses were given.

Vandine said that children aged 12-15 have to bring their birth certificates, residence books, family record books or passports. Children aged 15-18 have to bring along birth certificates, ID cards, residence books, family record books or passports.

She also noted that Covid-19 vaccinations require written consent letters from a parent or guardian. Children without parents or guardians can bring a consent letter from an orphanage director or from their local authorities.