Councillor concerned after locals reject jab

HUNDREDS of people in rural communities in Ambunti-Dreikikier, East Sepik, have decided not to get the Coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccine, says a ward councillor.
Kumbum ward 25 councillor Paul Alphonse said he was worried that many people within the Dreikikier local level government were against vaccination.
He told The National that community leaders were finding it difficult convincing the people to get vaccinated as many had been influenced by what they had heard or read on social media or from what had been told to them.
“People have their own interpretations about the vaccines,” he said.
“We are calling on the authorities to make an effort to conduct awareness about the Covid-19 and the vaccines to the people.”
Alphonse said this would help them understand that it was important for them to get vaccinated.
He said last year, only one awareness programme was carried out.
Alphonse said a health extension officer who had come all the way from Dreikikier station to conduct awareness had returned with all the vaccination kits after everyone refused to get vaccinated.
He said many people were not educated enough to understand what the Covid-19 was and how it affected the body and what were the best treatment for it.
“One awareness programme was not enough to make people believe that the virus has affected the world, including Papua New Guinea and they must protect themselves from it,” he said.
Alphonse said the upcoming national elections would see many people come to gather and this could see the virus spread among the local population.