PHNOM PENH, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia will allow private companies to import COVID-19 vaccines for distribution to private hospitals and clinics across the kingdom, Health Minister Mam Bunheng said in a statement on Tuesday.
"In a bid to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Ministry of Health will allow medical import and export firms to apply for a license to import any COVID-19 vaccines that have been approved by the World Health Organization," he said.
The minister added that applicants must ensure that they are qualified enough to transport, handle and store the vaccines safely and effectively, in compliance with technical standards.
The Southeast Asian nation has three WHO-recognized vaccines approved for emergency use, namely China's Sinopharm and Sinovac and Britain's AstraZeneca.
The country began an anti-COVID-19 inoculation drive on Feb. 10, with China being the key vaccine supplier.
Health ministry's secretary of state and spokeswoman Or Vandine said that so far, the kingdom has vaccinated 6.84 million people, or 68.4 percent of the 10 million targeted adult population. Enditem
