The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has initiated a nationwide COVID-19 vaccination campaign scheduled throughout July 2024, commencing from July 3rd.
During this campaign, the GHS aims to administer a minimum of 500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines to all individuals aged 18 years and above, intensifying efforts to bolster vaccination rates.
Vaccination teams will operate at hospitals, clinics, and health centers, ensuring accessibility to COVID-19 vaccines.
Additionally, teams will conduct outreach activities at residences, markets, places of worship, workplaces, and other venues to facilitate widespread access.
According to GHS, COVID-19 vaccination is now a routine for adults, available at all vaccination sites nationwide. Despite progress, significant portions of the population remain either partially vaccinated or unvaccinated, posing ongoing vulnerability to the disease.
Children under 15 years, not eligible for COVID-19 vaccination under national policy, rely on adult vaccination to indirectly safeguard them through achieving herd immunity.
Director-General of GHS, Dr. Patrick Kumah Aboagye, highlighted, “As of June 28, 2024, a total of 29,191,110 doses of COVID-19 vaccines had been administered to the population, and about 56% of the target population had completed the primary series.
“As the country strives to increase population immunity and break the transmission of the disease, within the context of a gradual increase in cases, it is imperative that all unvaccinated and partially vaccinated individuals are reached to prevent any potential surge in disease incidence and associated ill health and/or death,” a statement signed by Dr. Patrick Kumah Aboagye, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service.
“In the recent past (early April – May 2024), the increased number of COVID-19 cases in Ghana is ample evidence that the disease is not over. We are, therefore, calling on all stakeholders to support this effort by making sure that all eligible persons avail themselves to be vaccinated with the primary series and the boosters to ensure maximum protection. Protect yourself, protect your family, get vaccinated.”