Police Commissioner and Controller of the PNG COVID-19 National Pandemic Response David Manning had issued Direction No.2 authorizing AstraZeneca vaccination to be administered in the vaccination roll-out program in Papua New Guinea.
Manning directed that no vaccine except AstraZeneca shall be administered under the Papua New Guinea COVID-19 national Vaccination Program unless authorized in writing by the Controller.
Foreign Governments with diplomatic missions in Papua New Guinea may only provide COVID-19 vaccinations to their staff within the mission (excluding PNG citizens); permanent residents to their countries; and their citizens.
The Controller further directed that:
- Vaccinations are to be provided by medical personnel registered in PNG or by the relevant authority in the relevant foreign government’s country;
- Vaccination used by foreign governments must have received an emergency use exemption in Papua New Guinea from the Minister of Health & HIV/AIDS per section 4 of the Medicines and Cosmetics Act 1999; and
- A foreign government may provide a vaccination to a person who is not covered by the approved categories listed in this directive, if that person has approval in writing from the Minister of Health & HIV/AIDS.
This direction came into effect on Thursday, June 3, 2021.