Cambodia’s health ministry said on 6 October that there was no evidence COVID-19 vaccines caused cancer, responding to rumours about cancer risk.
The response concerned a South Korean study reported by Britain’s Daily Mail. The source describes associations involving six cancers, including lung, breast and prostate cancer, with some higher risks in people over 65. The study is observational; an association does not by itself show that vaccination caused cancer.
The source says international experts considered the findings superficially concerning but warned that the conclusions were overstated and that media should not mislead the public.
The health ministry’s Communicable Disease Control Department said there was no evidence that COVID-19 vaccines caused cancer.
The ministry cited the World Health Organization, International Agency for Research on Cancer, US National Cancer Institute and American Cancer Society in support of its position.
The source says Cambodia had recorded no new COVID-19 cases for several days as of the previous week. Since 2020 it reported 139,648 confirmed cases,136,592 recoveries and 3,056 deaths.
It cites ministry figures as of November 2024 showing 95.73% vaccination coverage and more than 15.3 million people vaccinated, with brands including Sinopharm, Sinovac, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson&Johnson. These are the historical figures reported, not current coverage estimates.
The ministry urged people to assess online information rationally, avoid rumours, remain vigilant and support evidence-based public health measures.
Compiled by this station
