Coronavirus

It successfully vaccinating 14,000 people at the Rita Flynn facility since the rollout of the program in May this year.

NCDPHA was given 4,000 vaccine doses of the Australia-donated AstraZenecca vaccines during the launch on May 12^th but that was used up within a week. From the original donation which will expire on 29^th July, 200 doses are left. According to NCD Immunization Program Officer, Janet Pongon, these will probably be used within two days.

Herd immunity, also known as 'population immunity', is the indirect protection from an infectious disease that happens when a population is immune either through vaccination or through immunity developed through previous infection.

The vaccination implementation program started last May after they received the first supply of 1000 doses of the AstraZeneca Vaccine from the National Department of Health.

The recent media-training program was facilitated by media rep, Rosa Koian in Port Moresby. It was supported by International Foundation for Electoral Systems through ABC International Development.

COVID-19 and the importance of protecting information integrity were the focus of the workshop. They looked at three types of 'Wrong Information' that caused hesitancy and clouded judgement amongst people who need reliable information. It covered Misinformation, Disinformation, and Malinformation.

The case was confirmed around 9am today, after lab results were sent back to Port Moresby from Melbourne, Australia.

A 65-year-old Philippines national has been confirmed to have contracted the Delta Variant after leaving Indonesia for Papua New Guinea on the 26^th of June.

The Ambassador for People’s Republic of China to PNG, Zeng Fahnua, and Minister for Health, Jelta Wong, jointly launched the Sinopharm vaccine.

The vaccine arrived two weeks ago and since its arrival, more than 2,000 Chinese citizens in PNG have been vaccinated. It will be rolled out at the PMGH and then be made available to other parts of the country.

The Minister for Forests and Member for Namatanai, Walter Schnaubelt, who was present to witness the launch, volunteered to be the first to receive the Sinopharm vaccine. He was then followed by a Chinese citizen.

Through its COVID-19 Response, implemented by FHI 360, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) will provide the GeneXpert cartridges to health facilities in Port Moresby to assist with COVID-19 patient identification and nationwide testing data.

Since the start of the pandemic in March 2020, the PNG government has only tested 131,712 citizens, roughly one percent of the estimated population of nine million, since the pandemic began.

Currently, the Delta variant has spread to at least 98 countries with low vaccinated coverage; it has made its way to neighboring countries including Australia, Indonesia and Fiji, prompting PNG to tighten up all entry points.

He warned that unvaccinated people are at more risk to themselves and to others, if they become infected.

Dr. Daoni says 70% immunization coverage will enable PNG to Slow the pandemic, as well as Prevent further the spread of this dangerous variant.

When the Eastern Highlands province experienced a sudden increase in COVID-19 cases early this year, hospital authorities were faced with insufficient supply of oxygen.

The Provincial Director for Public Health, Dr. Max Manape said when the province reported over 30 positive cases the patients with severe conditions were admitted with the hospital lacking oxygen cylinders.

“Severe cases of COVID-19 required oxygen as a major treatment but all at the same time presented difficulty,” he said.

Manning made this comment following criticisms on the new measures on international and domestic travel.

“There will be no mandatory vaccination nor situations created to force people to get the COVID-19 vaccine. This will always remain a personal choice for every Papua New Guinean and we respect that,” he stated.

The Minister said the only true way for PNG and other countries to fully open up and get back to normal is through vaccination.

The Delta variant is spreading rapidly across the globe and is now present in Australia, Indonesia, Singapore and even Pacific Islands nation Fiji.

“During this current Delta strain spread we have seen the difference between having the vaccine and not having the vaccine.