By Vanessa Adjei
The five-day National Covid-19 vaccination campaign which began, February 1, 2022 is winding down. The Campaign which was launched on Monday January 31,2022 by the Ghana Health Service, targeted persons who are taking the dose for the first time. It also includes those taking the booster Jabs.
Speaking at the launch in Accra, Programme Manager of Expanded Programme on Immunisation at Ghana Health Service, Dr Kwame Amponsah Achiano said “13 point seven million people in the country have not been vaccinated with only three point seven million people partially vaccinated”, which he said is worrying. He however reiterated government’s resolve to vaccinate 20 million people by mid-year.
“Our objective is to vaccinate 20% of the unvaccinated within two weeks using innovative ways to ramp up vaccination and its deployment and of course we have dubbed this as operation 2.5 million doses within five days”
Between the time the Covid-19 pandemic broke out and the production of the vaccines was short hence, many people have been exposed to false, inaccurate, or misleading. information about the Covid-19 vaccines. This has caused confusion and led people to refuse to take the vaccines, reject public health measures such as masking and physical distancing, and all kinds of treatments.
In the light of this, the Ghana Health Service launched the first ever National Covid-19 vaccination days campaign to eradicate these misconceptions about the Covid-19 vaccine.
Director General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Patrick Kuma Aboagye, said though the Service has been able to vaccinate about seven million people, more needs to be done to get these thoughts out of their minds. Dr. Aboagye said varied communication materials will be used to achieve the set target.
President of the National House of Chiefs Ogyeahohoo Yaw Gyebi who chaired the event advised the public not to allow rumours and misconceptions dissuade them from getting vaccinated. He said the vaccine is safe, effective and free.
Giving a presentation on the objectives, measures and expectations of the exercise, Dr. Kwame Amponsah Achiano said about 30 thousand health officers have been deployed to various centres. He called for an all-hands-on desk approach to fight the pandemic
”We are deploying more than 6,000 vaccinators with a little over 1,500 supervisors which in total 30,000 healthcare workers and volunteers across the country.”
Deputy Minister of Health, Tina Mensah, who represented the Health Minister to launch the five-day campaign, noted that the vaccination campaign is to “boost courage among the general public”.
She added that “All members of the arms of government and those having underlying conditions will take the booster jabs”.
Religious leaders who took turns to speak at the event, advised the public to go for the vaccination without delay and not rely on faith.
