Covid-19 vaccination

MSPNG has extended its support to transport the family and friends of its employees, from their homes to facilities in Port Moresby.

The initiative was launched to support the government’s ‘Sleeves Up’ COVID-19 vaccination campaign.

MSPNG Country Director, Dr David Ayres said their staff have been 100 percent vaccinated since July, and that has definitely helped them weather the third wave.

The Ombudsman Commission has warned government authorities to respect people’s rights and not force them to get vaccination.

Chief Ombudsman, Richard Pagen in a statement said the Ombudsman Commission is fully aware that PNG is a signatory to several core Human Rights Treaties and that its National Constitution is very unique that it almost contains all the rights and freedoms enshrined in the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948. 

In a research paper released by the PNG NRI stated:
This recommendation was based on the grim results from a study (PNG NRI Spotlight Volume 14, Issue 15 entitled: Why some of Papua New Guinea’s urban residents are reluctant to take COVID-19 vaccine? Strategy to increase vaccination rates) carried out in Goroka, Kokopo, Lae and Mt. Hagen on whether the residents have been vaccinated against COVID-19 and why most of them have not got the jab.

General Manager Tony Naidu said Cricket PNG is following COVID-19 measures to keep everyone safe.

Naidu said Cricket PNG made it its responsibility from the get-go, to have all players and staff vaccinated, with the understanding that cricket is an international sport, with strict travel requirements.

“We have put some things forward in the sense that we make it our business to protect our staff, athletes and the general public. COVID-19 is real and therefore we did everything we could, and at the same time abide by the NCC restrictions on COVID-19,”said Naidu.

The Mine Maintenance Department’s Shovels and Drills section were the first to be fully vaccinated after being shown the shared testimonies and photos on the WhatsApp group created of their superiors who received the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Field Coordinator, Vincent Orosambo of the Shovels and Drills section said the social media platform was initiated so that the team could encourage and ensure each other they were protected from COVID-19, and the platform achieved communication as well due to difference in roster and panel arrangements.

Two heads of agencies were among those who received their vaccinations.

The Secretary for Department of Personnel Management, Taies Sansan, and the Chief Censor, Jimmy Abani, were among staff from DPM, Immigration & Citizenship Authority, Foreign Affairs and others who got their jabs yesterday.

Prior to the vaccination conducted by the NCD Provincial Health Authority team, the acting public health executive manager, Dr Lucy John, said they were happy to provide vaccines to officers housed at the building.

“If you don’t want to be vaccinated, my strong suggestion is for you to participate in self-isolation and remain where you are with mask and social distancing,” he said.

During his first ministerial address at the 76^th United Nations General Assembly in New York on Friday, 24^th September, he addressed the COVID-19 crisis as one of the long-term threat face by mankind.

on half-pay from the 31st of October.

This was announced by the Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare this week and will apply to any employee of the national or provincial governments as well as state owned enterprises.

Mr Sogavare said if by 1 January 2022 they still have not taken up the vaccine their employment will be terminated.

It is the strongest messaging yet to come from the government with so far only 6.4 percent of the eligible population full vaccinated against the virus.

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services said children in this age bracket were being vaccinated first as these children were mostly in secondary school and some of them are nearing the end of their secondary education.

The ministry's advisory said that children will need to receive two doses of the Moderna vaccine which is administered at a dose interval of 28 days.

Parents and guardians will be asked to sign a consent form for children receiving this vaccine.

In a statement, Judge Deborah Marshall said she had been aware of "ongoing speculation" about the cause of death surrounding the teenager.

"Based on the information available to date, it does not appear that the death in question is linked to the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine," she said.

"However, this issue will be investigated carefully by the coroner and pertinent information will be requested from various agencies, including the COVID-19 Vaccination Independent Safety Monitoring Board."