By Jones Anlimah
Statistics from the Volta regional health directorate point to a high covid-19 vaccine hesitancy rate in the Volta region. Out of a population of 1,955,371, only 119,524 representing 9.7 percent of the total population of people in the region have been fully vaccinated as of January 29, 2022. This according to health officials in the region is worrying. The Volta regional deputy director of public health Dr. Kwesi Dzokoto disclosed this at a media launch of the Volta regional edition of the intensified covid 19 vaccination drive.
The harm caused by the covid 19 pandemic especially on the country’s economy makes it imperative for the utilization of all scientific measures including vaccination. For this reason, government rolled up a major vaccination drive to get majority of Ghanaians vaccinated in March 2021. About 20 million Ghanaians were expected to have been fully vaccinated by the end of last year. However, the figure was not archived.
There have therefore been a review of the set target date to get 20 million Ghanaians fully vaccinated by middle of this year. Ahead of the launch of the reviewed and intensified vaccination drive which starts from 2nd to 6th February 2022, the Volta region has already started the exercise.
At a short media launch on the exercise in the region, health officials from the regional health directorate were not happy about the poor level of enthusiasm towards the exercise. Figures from the directorate indicate that the region expects to vaccinate a total of 1,231,885 out of a population of 1,955,371. Out of the set target only 119,524 representing 9.7% of the population of the region as being fully vaccinated as at 29th January 2022.
A total of 262, 097 constituting 21.3 % of the population have received at least one dose of vaccination. Total dosses of the various vaccines administered within the same time frame amount to 364,790.
The Volta regional deputy director of public health Dr. Kwesi Dzokoto said this raises concerns in the country’s quest to get more people vaccinated to win the battle against the pandemic. He attributed the high hesitancy rate in the region to misinformation mostly consumed by people through social media. He assured of the safety and efficacy of the vaccines and outlined some measures to be undertaken by the directorate to shore up the numbers and called for the support of all stakeholders to help reverse the trend.
Stakeholders including Traditional authorities, the clergy, civic society groups and the media present at the launch assured of their commitment and support towards the exercise which has already commenced in the region.
