Vaccinations before visas

By CHARLES MOI
PAPUA New Guinea citizens and other people travelling to Australia are required to show proof of polio vaccination in their Australian visa application forms, an official says.
The Australian government recently updated its visa application policy for people travelling out of PNG following the polio outbreak in parts of Morobe, Madang and Eastern Highlands.
A spokesperson for the Australian Department of Home Affairs told The National via email that this approach was consistent with World Health Organisation advice for countries affected by polio.
“The Department of Home Affairs requests evidence of vaccination from visa applicants who have spent 28 days or longer in PNG and are aged six weeks and over,” the spokesperson said.
“Lack of evidence of vaccination does not preclude granting of an entry visa.
“If evidence cannot be produced, the applicant will be offered vaccination from an appointed panel or family physician.”
Only applicants for Australian visas are affected by the policy update. Australian citizens, permanent residents, diplomats and ex-residents applying for a resident return visa are not affected.
Those travelling under the Torres Strait Treaty for traditional purposes are not impacted.
“Australia maintains high rates of polio immunisation, has good sanitation infrastructure and high quality surveillance and response systems. The risk to people in Australia is low from this outbreak,” the spokesperson said.
“However, it is another reminder of the importance of being fully vaccinated against vaccine-preventable diseases, including polio. Australia has well-established biosecurity processes in place at our international borders which screen and appropriately manage ill travellers.
“Due to the low risk to Australia, no further border measures are required or recommended at this stage.”
The United Nations has launched a response to contain the outbreak following the announcement by the Government of a vaccine derived polio virus in Morobe .
The UN and Government authorities have surveyed the area, collected samples and carried out laboratory tests.
The UN is also working with the Government to strengthen routine immunisation and surveillance in hospitals and health facilities in the country.
“To control the outbreak, the UN is supporting the Government in launching a polio campaign that will include two rounds of a supplementary immunisation activity for Morobe, Madang and Eastern Highlands provinces.”
The Government also allocated K6.6 million to support emergency interventions particularly with vaccination in Morobe, Madang and Eastern Highlands.
Health Minister Sir Puka Temu had declared the polio outbreak a public health emergency.