By Yvonne Atilego.
Persons, 18 years and above in seven Covid 19 hotspots including, Tema, and Kpone Katamanso, in the Greater Accra Region are eligible for the single shot of Johnson and Johnson vaccines.
Another 4 districts which are also hotspots in the Ashanti Region are also eligible.
The Ghana Health Service (GHS), has said that it plans to extend the exercise to cover vulnerable groups. Manager of the Expanded Programme on Immunization, Dr. Kwame Amponsah-Achiano in an interview with GBC NEWS, warned that those who have already taken the AstraZeneca vaccines are not eligible for this shot of Johnson and Johnson vaccines.
The Vaccines, he said, ‘’are for those who have not been inoculated at all. GHS would later take delivery of more AstraZeneca vaccines, where those who have had only their first dose will take their second shot.”
Dr. Kwame Amponsah-Achiano warned that persons may experience similar reactions such as chills and headaches, just as the AstraZeneca symptoms.
He was, however, quick to add that persons should report quickly, if they experience adverse reactions.
Ghana took delivery of 177,600 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine on August 7, 2021 as part of the first batch of the Africa Union’s African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT).
So far, only 405,971 have been fully vaccinated by receiving both doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, whilst 865,422 have received only the first dose.
Ghana has recorded 109,022 cases of Civid-19, and currently has 6,765 cases after a surge in the last 40 days.
Meanwhile, vaccine shots in other coronavirus hotspots such as the Ashanti Region will begin on Monday, August 16, 2021.The Johnson and Johnson Vaccines have a 4month life span.
