Over 200 received vaccines after uni conducted awareness

Betel nut vendors not wearing masks at the 5-Mile Market outside Goroka town on Tuesday. Some people are still not following measures put in place to curb the spread of the Covid-19. – Nationalfilepic

MORE than 200 students, staff and neighbouring communities of Papua New Guinea University of Natural Resource and Environment (PNGUNRE) have received the Coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccine after an awareness in East New Britain.
Pro vice-chancellor for planning and development, Dr Livingstone Tavul, said this when speaking to a mid-morning radio show on Monday.
“We are not forcing people to get vaccinated but this is our contribution towards awareness and prevention so people can make better decisions,” he said.
Dr Tavul said after the awareness, 122 staff and students were vaccinated.
“At the moment more people need to be vaccinated. We are really clearing the misconceptions about the vaccination,” he said.
Dr Tavul said they used the 500,000 awareness booklets that were published three weeks ago by the Melanesian Foundation in consultation with Prof Glen Mola, Port Moresby’s Paradise Hospital, the PNG Institute of Medical Research Foundation, National Control Centre, University of PNG, Divine Word University, local doctors and the Australian government.
He said the information booklet was put together to clear misconceptions on social media about the Covid-19 to prevent transmission and encourage people to get vaccinated.
Dr Tavul said conducting awareness helped clear doubts and fear among the people.