President Akufo-Addo has emphasized that the government is assiduously trying to obtain and supply vaccines to medical facilities as a matter of emergency.
Due to a lack of immunizations, health facilities are turning away parents of infants who have not received vaccinations.
Financial difficulties have prevented the availability of measles, polio, and tetanus vaccines for a period.
However, presenting to Parliament the State of the Nation on Wednesday March 8, 2023, President Akufo-Addo expressed worry over the shortage of childhood vaccines.
“Mr. Speaker, I must say, however, that the current shortage of some childhood vaccines in the country has concerned me greatly. This shortage, if prolonged, will affect negatively Ghana’s Childhood Immunisation Programme, which has been recognised as one of the most successful in the world. The WHO has only recently expressed worry about a steady decline in measles vaccination coverage globally, because of the concentration on the fight against COVID-19.
“In accordance with our desire not to become part of this global trend, Government has taken steps to ensure that stocks of these vaccines are procured and supplied, as a matter of emergency. The Ghana Health Service has developed an elaborate programme to catch up on children who have missed their vaccinations immediately stocks arrive,” President Akufo-Addo assured.
He continued: “Mr. Speaker, I want to encourage all parents and caregivers to ensure that eligible children are vaccinated, once this programme begins. No child should be denied access to vaccination. Mercifully, so far, not a single child has died as a result of the outbreak.”
Source: Richard Obeng Bediako ll Myoriginalonline.comll Ghana