Papua New Guinea health authorities are anxious for front-line workers to get vaccinated against Covid-19 as soon as possible.
Papua New Guinea's Health Minister Jelta Wong Photo: EMTV
PNG's Medical and Scientific Advisory Committee has granted approval for use of the AstraZeneca vaccine in the country.
PNG's total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases is nearing 2000, with around 800 new cases reported in the past five weeks.
The Health Minister Jelta Wong said a lot of the cases were health workers
"We want all our nurses and frontliners all trained up before the vaccine comes so that we can roll straight out," he said.
"The first lot of the vaccine we are probably looking at in about two to three weeks time. We should have our staff trained well enough to go to other areas to make sure that the frontliners are vaccinated."
Earlier, the Health Department said PNG would receive 588,000 vaccine doses before the end of June, with the Prime Minister James Marape saying they would initially come via India and Australia.
Marape said vaccination would not be compulsory, adding that it would first be targeted at health workers, people over the age of 50 and those with underlying health conditions.
Meanwhile, PNG's National Pandemic Response Controller today reported 49 new cases of Covid-19 in the country. It takes the national total number to 1,741.
Jiwaka province has reported its first cases after eight people tested positive. Eighteen of the country's 22 provinces have now reported cases.
According to the Controller, there have been 21 known deaths from the coronavirus.