Sinopharm vaccine arrives

By LULU MARK
THE 200,000 doses of Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccines with syringes donated by the Chinese government have arrived yesterday and will be rolled out soon, officials say.
National Planning and Monitoring Minister Rainbo Paita, who was at the Jackson International Airport to receive the vaccine on behalf of the Prime Minister James Marape and Health Minister Jelta Wong, thanked China for assisting PNG in combating the Covid-19.
Paita said China made the commitment to donate vaccines in February during talks with Papua New Guinean and Chinese officials.
Chinese Ambassador to PNG Zeng Fanhua said the Sinopharm vaccine was safe.
He said more than a billion doses were administered in China and the Pacific, especially in the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
“We will cooperate with PNG authorities to make sure this vaccine is rolled out to help the people,” Fanhua said.
“It is better that everybody who has the chance get the vaccine.”
National Pandemic Response deputy controller Dr Daoni Esorom said the planning for Sinopharm’s roll out would start tomorrow.
He said the roll out plan would be done by Port Moresby General Hospital, a Chinese medical team, Health Department and the National Control Centre.