Almost all admitted Covid-19 patients unvaccinated, says doctor

By LULU MARK
ALMOST all the Coronavirus (Covid-19) patients admitted at the Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH) are unvaccinated, chief executive officer Dr Paki Molumi says.
Dr Molumi told The National yesterday that 50 Covid-19 patients were admitted at the hospital and the number was increasing daily.
He said 98 per cent of those admissions were unvaccinated people, hence, it was important that people were vaccinated to prevent hospitalisation and death.
“The 19-bed isolation ward is fully occupied,” he said.
“I cannot confirm how many Delta variant cases.
“We are managing with the resources available.
“We are recruiting more staff on short term contracts to manage the increasing number of cases so staff remain to continue providing other non Covid-19 services.”
Dr Molumi said the Taurama Aquatic Centre Covid-19 ward was also open and five mild cases were admitted there.
The low vaccination uptake in the communities and among the health workforce was a concern, he said.
He said at the PMGH 72 per cent of the medical staff but less than 10 per cent of the nurses were vaccinated. “This vaccination hesitancy among our frontline staff, especially the nurses, is a concern for us.”
Dr Molumi told The National earlier that the number of cases started increasing in August.
“We have few intensive care unit beds, that’s why we encourage people to vaccinate and reduce transmission to protect our fragile health system,” he said.