Supporting Prime Minister, James Marape on the National Covid Vaccination rollout, NCD Governor Powes Parkop calls on fellow Parliamentarians to lead by example in having themselves jabbed with Covid-19 vaccines available in the country to protect themselves and their people from a potential third wave. "Being in leadership requires that sometimes we make tough and even unpopular decisions. Prime Minister James Marape has been subjected to many attacks about the response to Covid-19. Yes, issue about accountability of funds spent is a concern we all must raise but the decision so far to take tough measures including promoting the vaccine rollout is the most responsible decision to make. I believe it’s the Government tough decisions and measures that has protected us this far and not because we have some superior immune system to the rest of the world. If we have such a superior immune system, I’ve yet to see it protect us from TB, cancer, HIV AIDS, kidney and heart failure etc. Let’s support the Prime Minister and our Team to roll out the vaccine inoculation program across the country," said Governor Parkop. Governor Parkop made this call when debating on a Covid-19 report tabled in Parliament by the Treasurer Hon. Ian Ling-Stuckey. In light of massive vaccine hesitation in the country, he also urged them to be responsible in their public commentaries and speeches at various platforms. Governor Parkop said the people look up to the leaders as role models, adding their anti-vaccination comments and speeches will not help the situation or make the hesitation worse. Debunking conspiracy theories and misinformation, Governor Parkop said he got his second jab to boost his immune system. “If there was a conspiracy by the Americans or Chinese, Bill Gates or anyone else for that matter to kill us, they won’t need what is so glaring and obvious means like inventing a pandemic or vaccine to kill us. We eat lots of imported food, consume lots of medicine like Panadol, anti-biotic like amoxicillin, malaria medicine made in China and a lot of other readily but not so controversial means to achieve such outcome. “Hesitancy and believing in conspiracy theories and superstitious beliefs is a poor reflection on us as a people and a nation. Solomon Island has just announced that it will be compulsory to be vaccinated. Over 2.5 billion people in the world have been vaccinated. That’s the narrative we need to promote as leaders and not to succumb to the uninformed and superstitious,” said Governor Parkop. He said he was yet to see the side-effects of the vaccines projected by naysayers develop in his body. “Vaccination is our last line of defense! Yet, there is massive vaccine hesitancy. The conspiracy theories and myths circulating on social media are spreading faster than the virus itself. “Let's fight misinformation with correct information. Let's get vaccinated, PNG! Those companies which manufactured the Covid vaccines will not risk their reputation to have produced something that will have side-effects, he said. "Companies like Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson and other vaccines manufacturers have a business reputation to protect. If their product results in massive deaths and serious side effects, it will affect their reputation and business. Vaccines have been subjected to high standard of test before they were approved for use. The risks are very very low compared to the benefits," he said.