So far, no private company in Cambodia has been able to bring in Covid-19 vaccines to inoculate people in the country although the government permitted the import of World Health Organisation-approved jabs a few months ago, according to Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Speaking during the launch of Covid-19 vaccination campaign for children aged 6-11 at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh on September 17, he said: “We’ve already allowed them to import the vaccines, but the problem is that they are unable to purchase them.

“Some [makes of] vaccines require storage at very low temperature in order to ensure their quality and efficacy. The question is whether any private company can do that,” he said.

Hun Sen noted that if any private company can eventually import the vaccines, pricing will depend on the market, though the government will facilitate the matter.

“Some people do not volunteer to get the jabs provided by the state probably because they want to get them from a private health establishment. The state will not determine their pricing and can only call on those companies not to sell them at a high price.