Cambodia’s Hun Sen Asks Washington for Money, Not Vaccine

[geovalin]

U.S.-based Pfizer’s vaccine requires cold storage Cambodia lacks, so cash would buy AstraZaneca’s from UK

 

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said Monday that the country is unable to use coronavirus vaccines from the United States because storage of the vaccine requires an ultra-cold freezer.

 

The prime minister made the remarks in a speech at the opening of a water treatment facility in the capital Phnom Penh. Cambodia currently lacks the capacity to store the vaccine developed by Pfizer, which must be stored at between -80 and -60°C (-112 to -76°F).

 

“We would accept the help of [a vaccine] from the U.S., but the vaccine needs to be stored at below 76°F, so Cambodia cannot use it,” Hun Sen said.

“If the U.S. wants to help, please send money instead as Australia has, so Cambodia can purchase the AstraZaneca vaccine,” he said.

 

The British-Swedish developed AztraZaneca vaccine can be stored and transported at temperatures between 2 and 8°C (35.6° to 46.4°F)

The prime minister also said that he would not be the first in the country to receive the vaccine from China as he had said previously, saying he would prefer that medical personnel receive it before him.

 

“I previously emphasized that when the Chinese vaccine arrives in Cambodia, I would go to the airport to welcome it and I would get the first shot. But the problem is, the person injecting the vaccine will not have received it yet,” he said.

 

“Let us ask the prime minister of Singapore and the president of Indonesia who have received the vaccine. If they got their shots from doctors who themselves hadn’t received it first, I will follow their example,” said Hun Sen.

 

The prime minister said Cambodia will receive its first batch of 600,000 vaccine doses from China this month.

The Chinese vaccine rollout has been marred by safety concerns. The New York Times reported in November that three of four Chinese candidate vaccines in late-stage human testing had at that time been made available to tens of thousands.

 

The BBC reported in January that although one of China’s vaccines have been approved for emergency use since July, phase three trials in several different countries showed widely differing efficacy rate, with Brazil initially saying it was 78 percent effective only to revise the figure to 50.4 percent as more data came in.

 

Cambodians should avoid Chinese vaccines, as they are not officially recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO), a former member of the National Assembly from the banned opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) told RFA’s Khmer Service.

 

“I appeal to Khmer people not to get the hazardous Chinese vaccines. Let’s wait a little bit longer. I believe that when the developed countries produce enough vaccines, they will help to provide us with their safer alternatives,” Gnem Nheng said.

 

Cambodia has confirmed only 466 cases of the virus within its borders with no deaths.

As Cambodia does not face grave danger, the country can afford to wait, San Chey, the executive director of the Cambodia office of the Affiliated Network for Social Accountability (ANSA) told RFA.

 

“We don’t need to be hasty. We should take time to study our options thoroughly. It is not bad to wait a bit longer. We are not in an emergency or in panic mode compared to other countries. This means we are still under control,” San Chey said.

Reported by RFA’s Khmer Service. Translated by Sok Ry Sum. Written in English by Eugene Whong.

https://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/vaccine-02012021191849.html

Copyright © 1998-2020, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.

[zzzzz]

Of course he doesn't mention he and his friends can than take their appropriate handling fees...

 

 

 

[mr_lob]

Any country wanting to help should procure the vaccine and send it. 

We know that those $$$ will go for a burton

[natway09]

This subject is now closed.

He wants the money, not the bag. I wonder why? Stupid Australia

[PETERTHEEATER]

7 hours ago, geovalin said:

but the vaccine needs to be stored at below 76°F, so Cambodia cannot use it,” Hun Sen said.

Huh? Hun Sen has not got a domestic refrigerator in his residence?

[PatOngo]

Is there no limit to Hun Sen's greed! Dig in your own pocket and DO something for your people! You've pillaged enough from the country!

 

 

Edited February 2, 2021 by PatOngo

[Tarteso]

This guy needs a mouth mask, what a cheek!

[Benmart]

He, his family and assorted cronies have siphoned untold millions from the people, and he has the cheek to ask for money, while at the same time jailing those who voice dissent.

[hotchilli]

8 hours ago, geovalin said:

“If the U.S. wants to help, please send money instead

Maybe Hun Sen could dip into his private billions to help out.. or ask his bed fellows the Chinese.

[RocketDog]

1 hour ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

Huh? Hun Sen has not got a domestic refrigerator in his residence?

The article dropped the minus sign when he was quoted. It's - 76.

 

Cambodia currently lacks the capacity to store the vaccine developed by Pfizer, which must be stored at between -80 and -60°C (-112 to -76°F).

Edited February 2, 2021 by RocketDog

[Caldera]

Not ashamed to ask for cash handouts wherever they might come from, this one.

 

[Pique Dard]

21 hours ago, geovalin said:

“If the U.S. wants to help, please send money instead as Australia has, so Cambodia can purchase the AstraZaneca vaccine,” he said.

 

now can hun san promise the money will go for purchasing vaccine? just a question without hidden intentions!

[Poet]

22 hours ago, geovalin said:

“I previously emphasized that when the Chinese vaccine arrives in Cambodia, I would go to the airport to welcome it and I would get the first shot. But the problem is, the person injecting the vaccine will not have received it yet,” he said.

 

“Let us ask the prime minister of Singapore and the president of Indonesia who have received the vaccine. If they got their shots from doctors who themselves hadn’t received it first, I will follow their example,” said Hun Sen.

If you thought the Thai leadership were inane and disconnected from reality, meet the Cambodian leadership.

 

[Poet]

22 hours ago, geovalin said:

Cambodians should avoid Chinese vaccines, as they are not officially recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO), a former member of the National Assembly from the banned opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) told RFA’s Khmer Service.

 

“I appeal to Khmer people not to get the hazardous Chinese vaccines. Let’s wait a little bit longer. I believe that when the developed countries produce enough vaccines, they will help to provide us with their safer alternatives,” Gnem Nheng said.

An impressive safety feature of the Chinese vaccines is that, if you do manage to buy one, you have a 50% chance it is a forgery.