Japan pledges 1M doses of AstraZeneca

Japanese Ambassador to Cambodia Mikami Masahiro. Japanese Embassy in Cambodia

The Japanese government pledged to provide about one million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to Cambodia.

The assistance is in line with the relationship between Japan and Cambodia and based on the current situation of Covid-19 in Cambodia.

The vaccine, licensed for production in Japan, will be shipped to Phnom Penh shortly when the logistics by the COVAX facility is completed.

“I hope that this donation will support the Royal Government of Cambodia's efforts to defeat Covid-19 as well as help to relieve some of the anxieties of the Cambodian people,” Japanese Ambassador to Cambodia Mikami Masahiro said in the embassy’s statement on July 13.

As the world is experiencing the spread of new infectious disease pandemic, vaccination and strengthening the health system are important for Cambodian government and its people, he said. 

To date, the Japanese government has provided more than $50 million in assistance to Cambodia, including the provision of medical equipment, hospital improvements, support for international organizations’ projects for measures to prevent cross-border disease transmission, and the provision of equipment for proper transportation and storage of vaccines.

“We have also provided a loan of approximately $227 million, which is being used to provide cash benefit to people affected by Covid-19 and to strengthen the medical care provision system,” Mikami Masahiro said. 

In the fight against Covid-19, Japan is committed to cooperating and working with Cambodia.

“I sincerely hope that the situation will improve as soon as possible and that the exchanges between our two countries and across the world will resume,” he said.