Vaccine alliance to leave PNG

The Gavi Vaccine Alliance, which has been supporting Papua New Guinea’s immunisation programme since 2006, will be pulling out after 2020, according to chief executive Dr Seth Berkley.
He said yesterday that it wanted health systems strengthened before leaving.
Berkley said PNG’s immunisation programme had seen some improvement in recent years, but required sustained commitment at all levels to ensure all children were protected against vaccine-preventable diseases.
He said leaders at every level had to get together and strengthen health systems in the country.
Berkley said the concept was exciting and powerful, as the vaccines should be made available to all who needed them.
“It is all about strengthening health systems in countries and giving countries the tools they need to protect their citizens,” he said.
“The alliance has purchased vaccines for the world’s children population. We are an ally to share information and help countries on how they can improve their immunisation coverage more rapidly.”
Deputy Health Secretary Dr Paison Dakulala said PNG’s low immunisation coverage had many causes, one of them being money.
He said outbreaks of measles, whooping cough and polio indicated that children had not been routinely and consistently vaccinated.
PNG’s immunisation coverage stands at 60 per cent, which is the lowest in the Asia-Pacific region.