Vaccination

Immunization Campaign set for May

In addition, children between 6 months and five years will receive Vitamin A to boost their immunity and prevent diseases and blindness.

This is a critical and timely intervention by the National Department of Health, as Papua New Guinea (PNG) faces a high risk of disease outbreak due to low immunization coverage across the country.

It is commendable that the government is taking proactive steps to protect children from deadly and debilitating vaccine-preventable diseases.

Workers’ Willingness Towards COVID-19 Vaccine

Yet, since the COVID-19 outbreak worldwide in December 2019, only 1.2 percent of people in Papua New Guinea (PNG) as at October 2021 had been fully vaccinated.

In order to help improve vaccination rates, business houses in PNG began to actively encourage vaccination rollout in the workplace. As “no jab, no job” has become the hallmark of many a PNG employers’ whip to enforce COVID-19 vaccine policy in the workplace, their workers were under pressure to choose between getting vaccinated and continue to work or lose their jobs if not vaccinated.

Yellow vaccine cards not for sale

Dr Liko issued the warning after receiving reports that there are people charging for the issuing of yellow cards.

“The yellow cards are processed and issued for free by the National Department of Health, and signed by the Secretary as the licensing authority. Anyone found to be soliciting money out of the yellow cards must be reported to NDoH,’’ he said.

Secretary Dr Liko said the people travelling overseas are required to produce an international Vaccine Certificate upon arrival in most countries.

Increase Vaccination Rollout: PM

He said this at a dinner on 28th February, hosted for CEOs of PHAs, COVID-19 Task Force, NDoH and partners who are in Port Moresby for a week-long planning workshop on COVID-19 vaccine rollout in the provinces.

Prime Minister Marape said the workshop is timely when PNG will conduct its 2022 National General Elections amid the pandemic. 
He said the country could not have survived the pandemic without the efforts put in by the cadre of health care workers in the provinces and healthcare establishments.

PX Overseas Flights Need Yellow Vaccine Card

For passengers who have been vaccinated in PNG, they are required to produce the yellow International Vaccination Certificate which is issued by the PNG National Department of Health.  

The green domestic vaccination certificate is not sufficient.

Bulldogs part ways with John Asiata following Covid-19 vaccine refusal

The NRL has not mandated the vaccine but have allowed clubs to and it’s understood Canterbury have become the first side to lose a player over the issue.

Asiata, 28, had only just joined the Bulldogs on a one-year deal after playing in 2021 with the Broncos.

The 28-year-old told the Bulldogs last month he’d rather work on a construction site than be inoculated.

Club bosses warned Asiata last week he’d be sacked if his stance didn’t change.

Christians Urged To Be Obedient

The Council comprises of the Catholic, Lutheran, United Church, Baptist and the Salvation Army. Each is standing by to support health experts during awareness drives.

General Secretary of the PNG Council of Churches, Reverend Roger Joseph and United Church Moderator Reverend Bernard Siai made these remarks when announcing their support for the vaccination roll out in the Nation’s Capital.

Reverend Joseph urged Christians to obey our leaders and to take the vaccine as a sign of love for a neighbor.

Vaccines don’t make people sicker if they get COVID

Vaccination Is Voluntarily: Uguro

He made this call in response to teachers having misunderstanding on the vaccination.

Minister Uguro told this newsroom from France that the Government is not forcing teachers to be vaccinated, as it is up to them to decide.  

“As a Minister responsible, I am doing my job by appealing to our teachers and citizens to do the right thing.  Importantly we must follow our own conscience.

Vaccination To Help Tourism Industry

At the official opening of the first ever national contemporary arts exhibition in Port Moresby last Friday at the APEC Haus, Minister Leonard stressed that mass vaccination of the country’s population would change the tide and give confidence to foreign tourists to visit Papua New Guinea.

He said culture, creative industry in PNG is an untapped industry, and to him it is like a sleeping giant that if given the recognition it deserves, it would contribute to the national purse and assist in nation building.