Hanoi (VNA) – More than 40,700 people in Laos received thefirst shot of COVID-19 vaccine as of March 15, the Lao News Agency (KPL)reported on March 19.
The inoculation drive prioritises people with high risks of infection,including those who are working in the frontline, health workers and staff atimmigration offices and border gates.
The country is preparing for the second phase of the campaign startingfrom mid-March to early April, according to the Vientiane Times daily.
About 20 percent of the population, or 1.6 million people, will bevaccinated this year. The vaccine coverage is expected to reach half of Laos’population by next year and 70 percent by 2023.
As of March 19, the Southeast Asian nation had recorded 49 cases sinceit detected the first COVID-19 infection last March.
Meanwhile, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen told the Ministry ofHealth to organise a 15-day vaccination campaign using AstraZeneca vaccine formore than 50,000 people aged over 60 in all districts in Phnom Penh.
He said a shipment of Sinovac vaccine will arrive in Cambodia onMarch 26.
The National TradeUnions Coalition (NTUC) on March 17 sent a letter to the Ministry of Labourrequesting that the government cancel the upcoming traditional Khmer New Yearthis year, due to fear of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As of March 19, the country’s Health Ministry reported a total 1,578COVID-19 cases, with 917 recoveries./.