Official assures vaccines allowed into country are safe

By LULU MARK
VACCINES allowed into the country are safe and people should not hesitate in getting them, National Pandemic Response deputy controller Dr Daoni Esorom says.
“Three vaccines – AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Sinopharm – have been gazetted in PNG,” he said.
AstraZeneca, Dr Esoram said, had been in country since March, with doses from the Covax facility, Australia and New Zealand.
“Pfizer will be used for American citizens,” he said.
“Sinopharm (was) brought for Chinese citizens initially and then it will go out to the public.
“We are now reviewing the measure released by the controller.
“When a vaccine is available for public use, we will amend the measures accordingly to include whatever vaccines, including Sinopharm, to be part of the vaccination programme.
“All vaccines that have been pre-qualified and approved by the World Health Organisation under emergency authorisation use are quality vaccines so they meet the safety guidelines, the efficacy guidelines, but most importantly the quality guidelines, including quality manufacturing.”
Dr Esorom said there were challenges in getting the people to take the vaccines but strategies would be reviewed on how to utilise the vaccines before the expiry date.
He said they were working to increase the demand for vaccines but most importantly to reduce the myths and hesitancy from the people.
“Vaccine is the end game – there is nothing else apart from vaccine that will end this pandemic.”