Kase advises visitors to get vaccinated

THE Health Department has advised visitors who stay for more than four weeks in the country to get a polio vaccine or booster dose before leaving.
Secretary Pascoe Kase said for those travelling into PNG: “it is your responsibility to check with your country’s national health authorities on the required polio vaccination requirements and schedules”.
“On July 24, I sent an advisory to all hospitals on the vaccination requirements for travellers,” he said in a statement.
“PNG complies with its obligation under the international health regulations that recommends that all travellers to polio-affected areas be fully vaccinated against polio. If you are a resident or a long-term visitor (staying for more than four weeks in any part of PNG), 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 to serve as a proof of vaccination.
“Ideally, the vaccine should be received between four weeks and 12 months before leaving PNG. However, in case of unavoidable last-minute travel, get one dose of OPV or IPV prior to departure if you have not received a documented dose of polio vaccine in the previous 12 months.”