Covid-19 testing, vaccination rates low in PNG

DESPITE the surge in the Coronavirus (Covid-19) cases throughout Papua New Guinea, testing and vaccination rates were still low, according to the National Control Centre (NCC).
In a statement on Wednesday, NCC highlighted that National Capital District (NCD) vaccinated 63,103 people which was 48 per cent of its target population of 92, 312 for this year.
The rest of the provinces have covered between 1 and 12 per cent ‘fully vaccinated’. The fully vaccination coverage rates in the Highlands were as follows; Southern Highlands (1 per cent), Eastern Highlands and Chimbu (2 per cent), Western Highlands (4 per cent), Hela (3 per cent), Enga (5 per cent) and Jiwaka (6 per cent).
The coverage rates for Momase region; Morobe (5 per cent), West Sepik (3 per cent), Madang (4 per cent and East Sepik (6 per cent.
In the Southern region; NCD (48 per cent), Western (12 per cent), Gulf, Milne Bay and Central (3 per cent) and Northern (2 per cent).
New Guinea Islands: East New Britain (30 per cent), West New Britain (15 per cent), New Ireland (9 per cent), Manus (16 per cent) and Autonomous Region of Bougainville (5 per cent).
The cumulative total of people that have been fully vaccinated as of Sun, Oct 17, was 109,549. The number of people that have received only one dose stands at 183,856.
The figures for vaccination coverage (at least one dose received) is 10 per cent, and those who are fully vaccinated is 5 per cent as of Oct 17, 2021.
National Pandemic Response deputy controller Dr Daoni Esorom urged all frontline workers, including the health workers to consider vaccination to protect themselves and their families against the Covid-19. Dr Esorom said the statistics were clear.
“Health workers are getting infected every day,” he said.