Vaccination not mandatory for Team PNG: Sir John

PAPUA New Guinea Olympic Committee (PNGOC) president Sir John Dawanincura says Covid-19 vaccination for Team PNG ahead of the Tokyo Olympic Games is not mandatory.
“Vaccination is an individual choice, it’s not mandatory but we encourage our athletes and officials to be vaccinated,” the 75-year-old said yesterday.
“(Pacific Games weightlifting gold medallist) Dika Toua has already been vaccinated.
“I’m in a vulnerable age group, so I’ve had my shot with the second one in six weeks’ time.
“We encourage our athletes and officials to be vaccinated as a protection, but it’s an individual choice and we can’t force anybody to be vaccinated.”
PNGOC secretary-general Auvita Rapilla said Team PNG athletes and officials, who were willing to be vaccinated, were scheduled to get their first shots on Monday.
“This is approved by the Health Department,” she said.
Meanwhile, Rapilla said the number of Tokyo-bound athletes would depend on their qualification and the ratio of athletes to officials.
“At this stage, there is no restriction on the number of teams to travel but there are counter-measures that are put in place by the host organising committee, International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Japanese government, in consultation with the World Health Organisation,” she said.
Rapilla said the organisers had sent a document that had measures for all participants to follow.