Cambodian students volunteer at vaccine sites

"We know that our job is at high risk of (catching) infection, but we're still keen to work on it because we want to protect our people and to win over COVID-19 as soon as possible," the 25-year-old says.

"As doctors, our obligation and duties are to save people and we cannot hide ourselves at home when people are in need of medical help."

Sopheaktra says the demand for vaccines is high in Cambodia because the pandemic is showing no signs of abating yet.

The Association of Cambodian Students in China has mobilized 51 Cambodian doctors and medical students who have studied in China to take part in the inoculation drive, says Um Vuty, the association's founder and honorary president.

"Currently, 26 have already been sent to inoculation sites in Phnom Penh as the rest of them are being deployed to inoculation sites in various provinces," he says.

"The vaccine is like a bulletproof vest that can protect our lives, so we hope that our doctors' participation will contribute to protecting our people's lives and to rebuilding our economy."

Ministry of Health Secretary of State Or Vandine, chairwoman of the ad hoc committee for COVID-19 vaccination, said earlier this month that Cambodia had arranged for about 250 inoculation sites nationwide, requiring roughly 2,200 doctors and health workers.