For the country to see the economy really pickup and the industries to fully recover from the downturn brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, the COVID-19 vaccination program must reach a very extensive level.
That’s according to the Director of the Papua New Guinea Institute of National Affairs (PNG INA) Mr. Paul Barker when highlighting the importance of the vaccination program on the economy of the country during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said to achieve this; the targeted group of people must be vaccinated and there must be enough vaccines to go around, and although the vaccination rollout has started, Mr. Barker said it’s still a long way to go.
“We really want to reduce the transmission level to protect those at risk so we can return to normal and restore the industries that are really affected.”
“We need to build up the vaccination rate, get the transmission down and really enhance opportunities for a wide range of economic activities to resume,” said Mr. Barker.
“We’ve not been restricted like many places because we have a more diverse economy, but even there it’s affected. We have seen it in the informal economy, which employs many people. It is restricted in their trading and activities even though we are conducting exports.”
Barker said other areas that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic included the tourism industry where some provinces that depend on it, lost a lot in terms of income and employment during the lockdowns and overseas flight restrictions.
Meanwhile, it is hoped that the increased number of vaccines expected to come into the country next month will intensify the vaccination program right across the country.