Health experts attribute the recent surge in COVID-19 cases to the incomplete vaccination status of most Ghanaians.
The full vaccination regimen, consisting of two jabs and a booster shot as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), is crucial for maximum protection against severe illness and death from the virus.
Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye, the Minister Designate for Health, highlighted this during a visit to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in his capacity as the President’s Representative at the Ministry of Health.
Dr. Okoe-Boye emphasized that while vaccination significantly reduces the risk of severe outcomes, the prevalence of only one dose among many Ghanaians may have contributed to the recent uptick in cases.
According to the Ghana Health Service (GHS), 18 new active COVID-19 cases have been recorded, with the potential for further increases.
As of December 2023, a total of 28,515,854 individuals had been vaccinated. Among them, 14,867,012 have received at least one dose, 11,782,609 are fully vaccinated, and 6,691,825 have received their booster dose.
Dr. Okoe-Boye underscored that COVID-19 remains a threat and urged those yet to complete their vaccination to do so promptly to mitigate the spread of the virus.
The GHS plans to conduct vaccination campaigns in May, June, July, and August to boost immunization coverage. Additionally, the public is urged to adhere to COVID-19 safety protocols to help curb the surge in cases.