The Controller of Papua New Guinea's Padnemic Response has called on citizens to get vaccinated against Covid-19.
PNG's Minister for Forestry, Walter Schnaubelt was the first Papua New Guinea citizen to volunteer to receive the Sinopharm vaccine against Covid-19, after its launch on Tuesday, 13 July, Port Moresby General Hospital. Photo: PNG Health Department
David Manning urged citizens not to be complacent against Covid-19 even though reported case numbers are down, which is linked to more limited testing being carried out by the Response teams.
"We continue to record Covid-19 cases which shows that community transmission is still occurring which is a worrying trend.
"Given the rise in community transmissions, every citizen has the responsibility to save lives through vaccination," said Manning who is also PNG's police chief.
PNG's health officials have been struggling to make inroads on innoculating significant chunks of the population, with vaccine hesitancy rife through the country.
Over 80,000 people have had at least one dose of vaccine, including the AstraZeneca or Sinopharm varieties. PNG's population is around 9 million.
The Controller's office says the total number of positive case is 17,774, with an official death toll of 192.
In June, the government announced a shift in focus for PNG's Covid-19 response away from testing to vaccination, even as the Delta variant of the coronavirus was recently confirmed to be in the country.
In the intervening time, more vaccination clinics have become operational in some urban centres. Port Moresby has seen clinics set up by with help from both Australia and China.
PNG's police commissioner David Manning (left) and prime minister James Marape Photo: PNG PM Media Unit
Manning said the vaccine could provide cover against the virus therefore citizens must voluntarily submit for vaccination.
"I call on everyone to get vaccinated to save their loved ones and fellow Papua New Guineans."
A less subtle version of the same call was made by prime minister James Marape last month.
He said that while the government could not force people to get vaccinated, they ran a greater risk of death from the coronavirus and would only have themselves to blame.
Urging people to take up the opportunity to be vaccinated, Marape said Covid had serious consequences that citizens should be aware of.