Australia is working with Papua New Guinea to support the Government’s response to a concerning spike in COVID-19 cases to help save lives and support our closest Pacific neighbor’s health system.
“By helping Papua New Guinea, we are not only helping our Pacific family, but we are also keeping our nation and our people safe.”
The Australian Government has agreed to a request for assistance and will partner with Papua New Guinea on a comprehensive support package to help it respond to the crisis.
This includes the earliest possible supply of 8,000 AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines from Australia’s stock. It will enable vaccination of the country’s essential health workforce, with an initial rollout for the National Capital District. Future priorities will be determined with Papua New Guinea’s Government.
The Australian Government will also make a formal request to AstraZeneca and European Authorities for one million doses of Australia’s contracted supplies to gift to Papua New Guinea.
The early vaccine assistance will be coordinated with the Papua New Guinean Government’s response, which has included their COVID-19 National Pandemic Response taskforce. DFAT will also work with the WHO and UNICEF to ensure that it complements PNG’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout plan.
The roll-out of vaccines in the Torres Strait Islands by the Queensland Government has already begun. The Australian Government will also work with Papua New Guinea and Queensland Governments to address health security on both sides of the Torres Strait including support for making vaccines available in a timely way in Treaty Villages in the Protected Zone.
Australia is also deploying a forward team of three AUSMAT health specialists to Port Moresby. The specialists will work with Papua New Guinea’s health authorities on infection control, triage and emergency management, and public health measures.
Australia is partnering with Papua New Guinea to support its response to a rise in #COVID19 cases. ?? will provide urgent vaccines, tents, PPE & an AUSMAT team. We are paying close attention to needs of villages in the Torres Strait & coordinating with international partners.???? pic.twitter.com/WhKkPZ19mn
— Marise Payne (@MarisePayne) March 17, 2021
The Australian Government will also provide essential PPE supplies to the PNG Government. This new support is in addition to the $144.7 million support that Australia is providing to Papua New Guinea over 2020-21 to 2022-23 through our regional vaccine access initiative. This funding will support Papua New Guinea prepare for a COVID-19 vaccination campaign and assist with the procurement and delivery of doses.
It also builds on a $80 million contribution to the multilateral COVAX Facility’s Advance Market Commitment (AMC) for developing countries, which will support vaccine access for around 20 percent of populations at greatest risk in 92 developing countries. The COVAX facility has indicated that it will deliver 588,000 vaccines for Papua New Guinea by June.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Australia has already provided assistance of over $60 million dollars in assistance to help Papua New Guinea respond to the crisis.
