As Papua New Guinea and Australia mark World Immunisation Week, the Australian Government was proud to attend the launch of Round 3 of the poliovirus vaccination campaign at Metoreia Urban Health Centre in Port Moresby, alongside the Secretary of the National Department of Health Mr Pascoe Kase.
Round 3 will build on successful vaccination efforts in 2025, which helped vaccinate an estimated three million children against polio and other preventable diseases, including measles.
Australian High Commission Minister-Counsellor Ms Madeleine Moss says the speed of PNG’s response went a long way in protecting communities.
“Less than a year ago, poliovirus was detected in samples taken from two children in Lae. By June, just ten months ago, the first round of emergency polio vaccination was already underway. The speed and determination of the response demonstrated PNG’s strong commitment to protecting its children and communities,” she said.
Round 3 will now support targeted vaccination activities for children under five in provinces assessed as high risk. It will also help to strengthen disease surveillance systems to reduce the risk of future outbreaks and support the implementation of PNG’s revised National Immunisation Strategy to address persistently low vaccination coverage.
In total, Australia has provided PGK 21 million (AUD 7 million) to support Papua New Guinea’s response to the recent polio outbreak, delivered through the World Health Organization (WHO).
As we mark World Immunisation Week, we commend frontline health workers across PNG for their hard work and unwavering commitment throughout the polio response, many of whom have walked for hours, climbed mountains and crossed rivers to reach remote communities.
This year’s World Immunisation Week theme reminds us that for every generation, vaccines work. Protection is not only for children, but for people of all ages, across every stage of life. Australia remains committed to working in close partnership with the Government of Papua New Guinea to protect children from preventable diseases and keep communities safe and healthy.
ENDS
Dignitaries at the launch of Polio Round 3 campaign which coincided with the World Immunisation Week.
For further information, including access to related materials, please contact the Australian High Commission media team: +675 7090 0100