Hospitals charging various fees for vaccination

The National National

By GLENDA AWIKIAK
HOSPITALS are charging different fees for people requiring polio vaccination to travel out of the country.
Paradise Hospital is charging K290. The Pacific International Hospital is charging K75 for locals and K86 for expatriates. Public hospitals are charging only K12.
The hospitals are responding to the recent changes by the Australian government to its visa application policy for people travelling out of PNG after the polio outbreak in parts of Morobe, Madang and Eastern Highlands.
A spokesperson for the Australian Department of Home Affairs told The National via email that this approach was consistent with the World Health Organisation advice for countries affected by polio.
“The Department of Home Affairs requests evidence of vaccination from visa applicants who have spent 28 days or longer in PNG and are aged six weeks and over,” the spokesperson said.
For those travelling out of PNG:

  • If you are a resident or long-term visitor after stays of more than four weeks in any part of PNG, you should get a polio vaccine or booster dose (OPV or IPV) before leaving the country;
  • Make sure to get a WHO IHR International Certificate of Vaccination (yellow card) to record your polio vaccination and serve as proof of vaccination;
  • Ideally the vaccine should be received between four weeks and one month before leaving PNG;
  • However, for last-minute travel, you should get one dose of OPV or IPV prior to departure if you have not received a documented dose of polio vaccine within the previous 12 months.

Those travelling to PNG should check with their national health authorities on the required vaccination requirements and schedules.
Adult travellers who have previously received three or more doses before should also be given one time booster dose of polio vaccine.