5,200 Motuans received vaccination, official says

ABOUT 5,200 Motu-Koitabu people have received their Coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccination, Port Moresby North-East outreach coordinator Esther Pinga says.
“They were vaccinated during the three-week Motu-Koitabu immunisation programme for the nine villages since June 6,” she said.
Speaking to The National on Saturday at Vision City’s Covid-19 mobile vaccination site, Pinga said health officials from Gordon’s Clinic, were working in partnership with the Motu-Koita Assembly to roll out the vaccination programme.
“We have just completed the first dose for all the nine villages of Motu-Koitabu and are now helping out with the vaccination roll-out in Vision City,” she said.
“Motu-Koita Assembly asked us to partner with Vision City.
“We are conducting vaccination from 1pm to 8pm on Thursday and Friday, and from 11am to 5pm on Saturday.
Pinga said the programme was a partnership between the Motu-Koita Assembly, Health Department, Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, New Zealand government and Family Health International 360.
She said about 6,000 people received their second dosage in Vision City to date.
“It is open every day and we have been vaccinating people from provinces such as East New Britain and West New Britain,” she said.
“Also, we have doctors and nurses here for counselling before giving the vaccines.”
Pinga urged those yet to be vaccinated to do so to stay protected.
“The vaccines are free-of-charge,” she said. “Since the roll-out of the programme, I have not come across any complaints of serious complications.”