By HARLYNE JOKU and CHRISTOPHER YANDAWAI
A brave Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape was the first to be injected with a shot of the AstraZeneca vaccine dose today just before 4pm sending positive signals to Papua New Guineans that they too can take it.
Minutes after taking the dose, PM Marape told the media he felt ok although advised by the doctors to lay down for 15 minutes.
PM Marape said he felt alright and decided he will immediately address the media to get his message across to Papua New Guineans.
“As you can see, I just got myself inoculated (vaccinated) . Olsem na me tok pisin lo ol media lo toksave lo citizens blo yumi. Mi kisim sut lo makim maus blo kantri”. ( I took the shot to represent the country).
He said in Tok-Pisin translated – You take vaccine before getting sick to strengthen your immunity against the COVID disease. You don’t take the vaccine when you are sick.
The vaccine roll out programme will continue at the Vaccination Centre at the Oil Search NFS with the PMGH Health CEO Dr Paki Molumi and his senior staff tomorrow.
The media was informed by PMGH CEO Paki Molumi last Friday that he would be the first to lead senior PMGH frontline workers in, to begin the vaccination rollout programme.
But the Prime Minister Marape decided he would be the first to lead the way for his fellow citizens.
This now put to rest the pronouncement that PM Marape made few weeks ago saying he would take lead in the vaccination rollout in the country leading other PNG’s frontline health workers and those that are willing to take the vaccines.
Senior Management team from the National Department of Health including Health Minister Jelta Wong, Justice Minister Bryan Kramer and COVID-19 Controller David Manning, Health Secretary Dr Osborne Liko, Prof John Vince, Sir Moi Avei, Sir Dadi Toka, NCD Governor Powes Parkop stepped in to be the next lot of Papua New Guineans to receive their vaccines after PM Marape.
Sunday Bulletin reporters were on the ground with members from other mainstream media organization to witness the roll out of the COVID-19 vaccines.
Although PNG Media was barred earlier by the event management on the ground from reporting the actual program of the vaccination stage, PM James Marape who arrived later advised PNG media to only witness him leading the rest of the frontline health workers to take the vaccines.
It was an event that didn’t go down well with the members of the PNG Media, however, they managed to capture PM’s taking the vaccines following his advice.
The members of the media were then told to leave the venue at a request to allow for privacies for other front line health workers including members from the NDoH to join in for vaccinations.
According to Port Moresby Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Paki Molumi’s announcement yesterday, about 240 PNG health staff were ready to be given the vaccines to start with.
It is understood these number of health workers are currently undergoing their vaccination treatment at PNGNFS this afternoon.
This now signals the official start of the COVID-19 vaccination roll out in the National Capital District and off course throughout the country.
PM Marape in his earlier statement clarified that this vaccination rollout will not be compulsory to everyone but can be taken voluntarily.
“If you think that your health is important, this vaccine rollout program will be available for you to take it not to protect yourself from COVID-19 but those that come in contact with you in everyday.”