Release one million doses of vaccine against it COVID-19 to help Papua New Guinea in its fight against a dangerous outbreak of the disease, which authorities say could spread to other parts of the same region, Australia will ask the European Union.
This request may provoke new tensions between Canberra and Brussels, as AMPE notes, following accusations of vaccine nationalism, after the EU recently blocked the shipment of a vaccine consignment to Australia.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said today that a vaccine contract had been signed with Australia and that there was an urgent need to dispose of the virus in Papua New Guinea, an island part of which is not far from Australia.
“We have signed a contract for them. We have paid and want to see these vaccines come here so we can help our nearest neighbor, Papua New Guinea, “with the immediate needs they have in our area,” Morrison told reporters in Canberra.
Australia will distribute 8,000 domestically produced vaccines against COVID-19 in Papua New Guinea, responding immediately to the outbreak of the pandemic, and will make available the one million doses as soon as they arrive from Europe, he said.
“She is our family. They are our friends. They are our neighbors. “They are our partners,” he told reporters in Canberra.
“They always support us and we will always support them. This serves the interests of Australia, but also the interests of our region. “
Earlier this month, the EU blocked a 250,000 shipment of AstraZeneca vaccine destined for Australia at Italy’s request, citing a lack of vaccines in Europe.
Later, she refused her request Australia to review the ban. This is the first denial since Brussels set up a mechanism to monitor the flow of vaccines in late January.
Papua New Guinea has officially reported more than 2,300 cases since the outbreak of the pandemic, a number that experts estimate undermines the true extent of the outbreak.
Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister James Marape said on Tuesday that his country had recorded 97 cases of COVID-19 infection in the past 24 hours.
Marape urged Papua New Guinea residents to avoid unnecessary travel, but his appeal came after Thousands gathered to mourn the death of Michael Somare, first Prime Minister of this island country after its independence from Australia.
Australian health official Paul Kelly said the limited number of diagnostic tests performed in Papua New Guinea showed alarming results.
“At the hospital in Port Moresby, half of the women who come because of their pregnancy are positive “ at Covid-19, Kelly told Canberra.
Morrison warned of an “uncontrollable” outbreak which could cause a new mutant strain of the virus, affecting not only the PNG but also the wider region.
As of midnight today, Australia will suspend all charter flights, as well as trips to Papua New Guinea, according to the Australian Prime Minister.
Australian authorities have already stepped up his disposal AstraZeneca vaccine in the Torres Strait Islands this week, some of which are within walking distance of West Papua New Guinea.
Australia said in a statement today that it had reached out to the United States, Japan and India, asking for additional assistance to Papua New Guinea.
(file photo)
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