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Tag: coronavirus vaccine

  • Care worker fired for declining Covid injection

    Care worker fired for declining Covid injection

    A former care worker who claimed to be an ethical vegan and refused to receive the coronavirus vaccine lost her tribunal case.

    The Times reports that Tracy Owen was fired from Sunrise, a care facility in northwest England, on November 20, 2021.

    By the end of that month, the government had ordered that all Care Quality Commission (CQC) licenced care home personnel in England have received their full dose of the virus vaccine.

    Owen, however, objected, according to tribunal records. She claimed that since the shot had been tested on animals, she should be excused from receiving it.

    In the lack of any exemption, Owen was let go from her position.

    She lodged a complaint against Willow Tower, a company that owns the care home, alleging that the company discriminated against and harassed her for being an ethical vegan.

    A 2020 case ruled that ethical veganism is a philosophical belief that is protected by law against discrimination under the Equality Act.

    Ethical vegans, like dietary vegans, eat a plant-based diet and steer clear from products derived from or that exploited animals, according to the Vegan Society.

    But the philosophy extends beyond diet and includes ensuring no animal cruelty is involved in clothing, entertainment, cosmetics and hobbies, among others.

    In court, however, Owen struggled to show this was the case for her, The Times reported, with a judge saying that being a dietary vegan and an ethical vegan are two different things.

    The court heard how Owen’s man criticism of having the Covid-19 vaccine was the ‘experimental’ way it was made, rather than it being tested on animals.

    Judge Rachel Mellor said the claimant struggled to provide ‘much detail’ about her beliefs.

    Asked if she eats honey or ever wore wool, she shrugged, the newspaper said.

    ‘There was a paucity of evidence upon which I could conclude she genuinely holds a belief in ethical veganism,’ she judge told the hearing in Manchester.

    ‘I accept she follows a vegan diet, and she avoids using some products that are not vegan. However, I cannot conclude that she genuinely holds a belief in ethical veganism.

    ‘She gave no examples of ways in which her daily life is structured to adhere to her belief. She gave me no examples of travel, clothing, holidays whether she ate honey or figs, relationships for example.

    ‘It was only when it was pointed out to her that she said she did not wear leather, but she did not expand on that and shrugged when she was asked about wool.’

    The Sunrise care home first mandated staff to have the jab in June 2021 after a patient’s family members raised concerns.

    Bosses told Owen that if she didn’t have the vaccine, she would be ‘re-deployed’ in the kitchen and laundry department instead.

    By November 12 of that year, when the vaccine mandate came into effect, Owen was handed a pink slip ending her time at the home.

    The court chucked out Owen’s unfair dismissal claim, ruling that her veganism did not count as a protected characteristic.

    Mellor added: ‘She did not explain how she went about ensuring she was following a vegan diet, how she checked her products, what she did if she was around someone else who did not eat vegan food, for example.

    ‘If it was a genuinely held belief, I would have expected that to exercise her more than it apparently did in the evidence I have seen.’

  • H3N2 Influenza: Ghana has no vaccines for treatment Anabah

    The Executive Director of the Africa Centre for Health Policy Research and Analysis, Dr. Thomas Anabah, has tasked the management of the Ghana Health Service and the Ministry of Health to take steps to procure the vaccines for the treatment of H3N2 influenza in the county.

    According to him, Ghana currently has no single vaccine for the treatment of influenza.

    “There is the need for the health managers to start scouting for the vaccines to help curb the further outbreak of the disease in the country,” he said.

    He explained that Influenza has been prevalent in the West African sub-region for years but the country has not been able to procure vaccines for curing the disease.

    He added that there are vaccines for curing the disease but Ghana as a country has no vaccine.

    He noted that the disease is treatable but its vaccines are not readily available in the country like the Covid-19 vaccines.

    He called on the management of GHS and the Ministry of Health to start a vigorous campaign to secure the vaccines for the treatment of the disease.

    “There are vaccines for the treatment of the disease in Europe and the Americas even though they do not experience the outbreak of the disease as rampant as countries in the West African sub-region.”

    Dr. Anabah made the call in reaction to the outbreak of H3N2 influenza in some second-cycle schools across the country while speaking on the 6:00 am news on Accra 100.5 FM on Thursday, June 9, 2022.

    The Director-General of GHS, Dr. Patrick Kumah Abaogye at a press conference on Wednesday in Accra stressed that about 3,470 samples of H3N2 influenza have been taken, and 773 cases have been confirmed to be H3N2 influenza in Ghana.

    Source: classfmonline.com

  • Central Region: Residents unwilling to complete COVID-19 dose

    The Central Regional Health Directorate has expressed worry about the reluctance of eligible residents in the region to receive or complete doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

    This, the directorate indicated, was making the vaccine deployment in the region difficult and hampering the Ghana Health Service’s vaccination campaign.

    Of the 1.3 million eligible persons in the region who have received the vaccine so far, only 32 per cent have received the complete dose, while four per cent have received the boosters.

    About 50 per cent of them have received only the first dose.

    Addressing the media on developments on the pandemic and attempts to remedy the situation in the region, the Central Regional Director of Health, Akosua Agyeiwaa Owusu Sarpong, said the skepticism towards receiving the vaccine stemmed from a variety of factors.

    This, she said, included the belief that the virus was a hoax, while others believed that the vaccine could cause other illnesses.

    She told the press that it was critical for residents to participate in the vaccination exercise so that the region could develop herd immunity and avoid the destruction the COVID-19 virus could wreak.

    “Some individuals have developed vaccine resistance, which is not good for the vaccination campaign in general,” she stated.

    She emphasised that “vaccinations have been around for a long time and our children are still living, and females are reproducing and so the misinformation going round is really disturbing the campaign and we are doing our best to mitigate these impacts by continuing to educate the public.”

    Situation

    Mrs Sarpong further reported that individuals had been less concerned about COVID-19 preventive measures such as handwashing and the use of face masks.

    “Before, when you went to any public place, you would see people mounting the Veronica buckets and strictly enforcing the handwashing measure but that and other restrictions have been eased”, she said, emphasising that it was unsettling.

    Mrs Sarpong added that the region’s status as having no COVID-19 cases currently could only be maintained if residents continued to follow the instructions.

    “Thankfully, there are no active COVID-19 cases in our region but we can only keep this status if we all follow the guidelines and get the vaccines,” she said.

    She emphasised that the Regional Health Directorate had subsequently taken steps to guarantee that all eligible persons in the region were properly vaccinated, particularly the half of the eligible population who had only gotten the first dosage and had not attempted to receive the second dose.

    She urged key stakeholders in the region to join the campaign aimed at assuaging public worries and educating them on the necessity of the vaccines.

    Source: graphic.com.gh

  • Coronavirus vaccines expiring Central Regional Health Director laments

    The Central Regional Health Directorate has disclosed that the Coronavirus(COVID-19) vaccines in stock are expiring as residents in the Central Region have stopped taking the vaccines.

    According to the Directorate, residents in the region are reluctant to take the vaccine after the government eased restrictions on the pandemic in the country.

    Addressing the media during a Press Conference, the Central Regional Health Director, Dr. Akosua Agyeiwa Owusu Sarpong said only 50 percent of people in the region have taken the single dose of the vaccines.

    He added that 32 percent have received two doses while four percent have received the boosters.

    The Health Director also indicated that out of over one million vaccines for the region, three hundred thousand have been administered, though the target was to immunize seven hundred thousand.

    She added that the patronage has been very low as compared to when the restrictions were still in force.

    Madam Owusu Sarpong appealed to residents in the Central Region to get vaccinated adding that the vaccines are available in all the Health Centers in the region.

    Background

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in March announced sea and land borders which were shut in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak will be opened.

    The President also announced that fully vaccinated travellers will be allowed entry into the country without a negative PRC test.

    “As from tomorrow, Monday, March 28, all land and sea borders will be opened. Fully vaccinated travellers will be allowed entry through the land and sea borders without a negative PCR test result from the country of origin

    “Citizens and foreign residents in Ghana, who are not fully vaccinated, will have to produce a negative 48-hour PCR test result, and will be offered vaccination on arrival,” the President announced in his 28th address since the pandemic on Sunday, March 27, 2022,” he added.

    President Akufo-Addo also stated that wearing of facemask is no more mandatory in the country.

    “All in-person activities, such as those that take place in churches, mosques, conferences, workshops, private parties and events, cinemas, and theatres may resume at full capacity, as long as the audience and/or participants are fully vaccinated. Hand washing and hand sanitising points should be made available at these venues.

    “Outdoor functions at sporting events, entertainment spots, political rallies and funerals may resume at full capacity, again, as long as all persons at these events are fully vaccinated.”

    Source: starrfm.com.gh

  • Uganda’s proposed new law will see anti-vaxxers face fines or six months in jail

    Uganda has proposed steep penalties for anti-vaxxers in a new bill being studied by parliament, as the country doubles down on its Covid-19 vaccine mandate.

    A parliamentary health committee said Tuesday it was considering proposed legislation to fine or imprison unvaccinated people in the East African country of around 45 million people.”Parliament’s Committee on Health has started the consideration of the Public Health (Amendment) Bill, 2021 that among other things seeks to ensure mandatory COVID-19 vaccination,” the parliament said in a statement on its website.

    “According to the proposal, those who do not get vaccinated against Covid-19 will be fined Shs 4 million (around $1,137) or a jail term of six months.”Uganda has administered around 16 million Covid vaccines since it began inoculation against the virus in March last year. But the country has grappled with a series of lockdowns to manage the pandemic amid misinformation and hesitancy towards Covid vaccines by anti-vaxxers.

    Uganda reopened for business last month after two years of severe containment measures which had seen schools and trading activities shut down. More than 15 million Ugandan students had their education disrupted by the two-year lockdowns, which the United Nations described as the longest disruption of educational institutions globally due to the Covid pandemic.

    Speaking to members of parliament on Monday, health minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng said the proposed fine of 4 million Ugandan shillings was an amendment to the current fine of 2,000 shillings ($0.57). 

    Aceng added that the bill seeks to “protect the vulnerable” and “create mass immunity.”

    “When we introduce new vaccines, we need to get a mass of people so we create mass immunity. It is important that whoever is supposed to be vaccinated, is vaccinated,” Aceng was quoted in the parliament’s statement.Uganda has recorded more than 163,000 cases of coronavirus and 3,500 deaths, according to government figures.

    The parliament said its health committee “has commenced interacting with different stakeholders to enrich the bill,” but no timeline was given for its endorsement of the legislation.

    CNN has made attempts to reach the health committee and ministry spokesperson for comment.

    Source: edition.cnn.com

  • Coronavirus: Manufacturing plant for vaccines coming Akufo-Addo

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, says BioNTech, the German biotechnology company, will contribute to the construction of a modular production facility for vaccines such as those for malaria and tuberculosis in Ghana.

    Speaking at the 73rd edition of the Annual New Year School and Conference, held at the University of Ghana, Legon, President Akufo-Addo stated that Ghana is also on her way to establishing domestic manufacturing plants for fill, finish and packaging of COVID-19 vaccines.

    According to the President, “I will, on 16th February, together with His Excellency M. Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal, and His Excellency Mr. Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, inspect in Marburg, Germany, the production facilities that we need to employ to this end. We are going to build a pan-African project with these two (2) sister African nations, where, initially, the fill and finish plant will be located in Ghana.”

    He continued, “BioNTech of Germany, the now renowned health technology company, which works with Pfizer, has agreed to be our partner, and will contribute also to the construction of a modular production facility for other vaccines as well, such as those for malaria and tuberculosis in Ghana.”

    Delivering a speech on the theme, “COVID-19 and Socio-Economic Dynamics in Ghana”, the President stated that the pandemic has illustrated vividly the need for self-reliance in all areas of social and economic life.

    “That is why the Government encouraged and facilitated the domestic manufacture of personal protective equipment at the height of their global shortages, which has enabled Ghanaian companies, today, to be exporting such products within the ECOWAS Region. It is key that we also break the cycle of dependence on foreigners in the fields of science and medicine, as well,” he said.

    President Akufo-Addo reiterated that Ghana should never be in the situation “of beggars that we were at the height of the pandemic when we could not access vaccines, which were being hoarded by the rich, developed nations of the world. Charity, they quite rightly say, begins at home.”

    He urged all Ghanaians to get vaccinated, and help end the spread of the virus in the country, as the science indicates that getting vaccinated “is the most efficient way to defeat the virus and go back to our normal way of life, re-open fully our economy, and return our nation onto the path of progress and prosperity.”

    The President indicated that Government has succeeded in securing considerable quantities of vaccines for the country, numbering nearly 26 million doses so far, with more on the way.

    “Thus far, a total of ten million, four hundred and fifty-one thousand, six hundred and sixty-two (10,451,662) vaccine doses have been administered. Seven million and seventy thousand, seven hundred and nineteen (7,070,719) persons have received at least one jab, with three million, three hundred and eighty thousand, nine hundred and forty-nine (3,380,943) persons fully vaccinated. So, I entreat all those who have not been vaccinated to do so. Our responsibility to one another requires that we be vaccinated,” he added.

    Source: classfmonline.com

  • Vaccinated persons dying more, stop administration – Doctors to Akufo-Addo

    Concerned Doctors of Ghana have called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to, with immediate effect, put a hold on the rollout of the COVID-19vaccine.

    According to them, the impression by government that the vaccine prevents infection and spread is false.

    Classfmonline reports that the concerned doctors indicate that recent studies show the vaccinated population is becoming more relevant in the spread of COVID-19, adding that, the vaccinated individuals have rather become a source of outbreaks.

    The doctors in a letter addressed to President Akufo-Addo said, “during the early days of the pandemic, the general sentiment was to hold on for a vaccine to come and save the day. We were told that these vaccines were our only way out of this pandemic, providing immunity against infection, preventing severe/critical disease hospitalisations and death. Overtime, however, all these have been shown to be false assertions.”

    They also urged government to immediately stop the mandatory requirement of proof of vaccination. Backing their argument with data, the concerned doctors indicated that the assertion that these COVID-19 vaccines reduce the risk of hospitalization and death, has been shown to be inaccurate as well.

    They said “in the state of Vermont, USA, it has been shown that 79% of deaths in September 2021 were among fully vaccinated individuals.

    “Over the month of September last year in the UK, approximately 79% of deaths were among fully vaccinated individuals as well. There are even schools of thought that theorise that the vaccinated are the main drivers of the pandemic,” classfmonline.com quoted them as having said.

    They added that relevant metrics indicate that, Ghana and Africa have done better than most of the world, they however recommend that many Ghanaians can strengthen their immune system by eating local dishes and fruits as recommended by the president in the early days of the pandemic.

    “Per your dietary advice during the early days of the pandemic, Mr. president said many Ghanaians may have strengthened their immune system after eating more of our local dishes and fruits which tend to be high in vitamins, minerals and other micronutrients,” they added.

    They urged government to conduct further research into locally made remedies and treatment for COVID-19.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • We are doing house-to-house vaccination Ayawaso West Health Director

    The Ayawaso West Municipal Health Directorate says it is strategically rolling out a house-to-house COVID-19 vaccination exercise to get people in the communities fully vaccinated.

    The exercise has helped reach out to members within the municipality, leading to about 60 percent of the population taking one of the vaccines.

    Madam Louisa Ademki Matey, Ayawaso West Municipal Health Director, said this during a sensitization and vaccination programme organized by Stratcomm Africa and Mastercard Foundation in collaboration with the Health Directorate.

    Madam Matey said they had intensified the campaign on adherence to safety protocols and needed to visit homes now that people have relaxed in going by the protocols.

    “Since the vaccination began in March this year till now, only 20 percent of the population in the municipality had fully been vaccinated,” she added.

    She said the aim, therefore, was to get to the smaller communities and to also get the artisans to go for the vaccination and capture everyone on board.

    “We will not sit at the Legon Hospital and expect them to come,” she said 

    Madam Matey explained that the strategy afforded them the opportunity to further engage households about coronavirus and the need for strict adherence to the protocols. 

    The Health Director said they had had community volunteers, who had offered their services for free in the last three months.

    She lauded the contribution of agencies and advocacy groups, who had supported in diverse ways, saying they would continue to collaborate and never relent in their approach. 

    Ms Myra Ankrah, Representative from Stratcomm Africa, underscored the need to engage more and broaden the knowledge base of the masses to reduce the myth and conspiracy theories, particularly as the virus kept mutating and having different names. 

    “It is important to get close to the community, as they talk about myth and find out what those myths are, and debunk them and also continue to push the message down to them,” she said. 

    Ms Ankrah said they were targeting two million people across communities and that similar projects had started in the northern part of Ghana. 

    The sensitization and vaccination exercise at the Okponglo Park was the third held in succession by the two organisations after Agbogbloshie and Tema Newton.

    The event saw young people performed on stage to educate participants about the safety measures, symptoms and vaccines of COVID-19 in the Ga language.

    Source: GNA

  • Imposition of compulsory vaccination on travellers reprehensible – Sammy Gyamfi

    Sammy Gyamfi has lashed out at the Ghana Health Service over its new directives for travellers coming into the country and those travelling outside the country to present vaccination cards compulsorily.

    Speaking in his personal capacity, the lawyer described the decision as reprehensible, stressing that any such decision should not be mandatory.

    “Vaccination must be by choice and not by force. The imposition of compulsory COVID vaccination requirement on all Ghanaians travelling into and out of Ghana by the Ghana Health Service is reprehensible and an affront to the 1992 Constitution.

    He further explained that, should this continue, he and others like him will do all it takes to resist this “madness.”

    “And some of us are determined to fight this madness through every available legal means no matter the cost or stigma,” he said in a Facebook post.

    The Ghana Health Service, on Friday, December 10, 2021, issued a statement announcing a review of its safety protocols for international travellers coming into the country.

    This, according to a statement from the Service, is coming ahead of the Christmas and New Year festivities, seeing that a lot of travellers are expected to be in the country.

    The statement said the Kotoka International Airport has already seen a surge in the number of cases of the novel Coronavirus it is reporting.

    “There has been a decline in the number of Covid-19 cases in Ghana over the past two months until the global picture of COVID-19 changed since early November 2021. Globally several countries are experiencing their fourth wave.

    “A number of travellers from these countries come to Ghana and this is expected to increase during the festive season. This current surge in COVID-19 cases is being reflected at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA). In November 2020, 168 cases were detected compared to 241 cases in November 2021, an increase of over 40%. We have since been recording an average of 20 positive cases a day at KIA,” the statement said.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Headache, body pains show the coronavirus vaccine is working in your body Nsiah-Asare

    Presidential Advisor on Health, Dr Anthony Nsiah-Asare, has allayed fears of persons who are worried about the potential reaction from taking the COVID vaccine.

    He stated that it is normal to experience headache, body pains and other reactions. These are indications that the vaccine is functioning properly in the body, he said.

    “If you are vaccinated and you feel slight headache it means the vaccine is working very well,” he said on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday, December 4 with Dzifa Bampoh.

    Dr Nsiah-Asare further urged all persons who are yet to receive their vaccines to do so in order to save their lives and the lives of others.

    In his view, Ghana cannot afford to go through the fourth wave of the coronavirus pandemic hence the government, through the Ghana Health Service (GHS), has taken the vaccination exercise a step higher in order to get as many as possible inoculated.

    Vaccination centres, he stated, are being created closed to the people in the communities including market areas to make it easier for them to go through the exercise.

    “We cannot afford a fourth wave,” he said, adding that “we can all do this together if you are vaccinated,” he said.

    The month of December has been declared by the GHS had as the vaccination month.

    Addressing a press conference in Accra on Sunday November 28, the Director-General of the GHS, Dr Patrick Kumah-Aboagye said vaccination was the surest way to deal with the virus.

    He further assured that the authorities are going to scale up surveillance measures at the Kotoka International Airport during the Christmas season to ensure that Covid infections do not increase.

    He further said that the mistakes that were made in December last year which occasioned the escalation of infections in January this year, will not be repeated.

    There is going to be a “strict enforcement of the protocols at the KIA. We are going to increase surveillance. We are expecting increased number of people to arrive in the country.

    “we are going to ensure that our logistics are prepared, we will continue our surveillance to be able to look at that, we are going to look at isolation centres,” he said.

    He added “Our contact tracing will be strengthened.”

    “We are going to engage with religious organizations to ensure that activities in done in Christmas are in accordance with Covid protocols.”

    Source: 3news.com

  • Covid vaccine to be mandatory for children in Costa Rica

    Costa Rica has become the first country in the world to make Covid-19 vaccinations mandatory for children.

    The jab will join the extensive list of basic childhood vaccinations already required by law, health officials said.

    The country signed a deal with Pfizer to acquire doses to start vaccinating all under-12s from March 2022.

    Earlier this week, the US health regulatory bodies approved the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for children aged five to 11.

    Most children are unlikely to get seriously ill if they catch Covid-19 but may still be infectious, even with no symptoms. The vaccine could help stop them from spreading the virus to others.

    Costa Rica’s deal with Pfizer will see it receive 3.5 million doses, of which 1.5 million will be reserved for those aged five to 11. The others will be for third doses to be given to first responders, the elderly population and immunosuppressed people.

    To date, about 55% of the population have been fully vaccinated in the country, according to Our World in Data figures.

    More than 70% of those aged between 12 and 19 have now received at least one dose of the vaccine, officials say.

    Costa Rica has become the first country in the world to make Covid-19 vaccinations mandatory for children.

    The jab will join the extensive list of basic childhood vaccinations already required by law, health officials said.

    The country signed a deal with Pfizer to acquire doses to start vaccinating all under-12s from March 2022.

    Earlier this week, the US health regulatory bodies approved the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for children aged five to 11.

    Most children are unlikely to get seriously ill if they catch Covid-19 but may still be infectious, even with no symptoms. The vaccine could help stop them from spreading the virus to others.

    Costa Rica’s deal with Pfizer will see it receive 3.5 million doses, of which 1.5 million will be reserved for those aged five to 11. The others will be for third doses to be given to first responders, the elderly population and immunosuppressed people.

    To date, about 55% of the population have been fully vaccinated in the country, according to Our World in Data figures.

    More than 70% of those aged between 12 and 19 have now received at least one dose of the vaccine, officials say.

    The US decision to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for children aged five to 11 has cleared the way for 28 million young Americans to get vaccinated. They are given a jab with a third of the dosage administered in adults.

    Officials at the Food and Drug Administration determined that the vaccine was around 91% effective in preventing Covid-19 in young children, and that their immune response was comparable to that seen in people aged 16 to 25. No serious side effects were found by researchers.

    Officials at the Food and Drug Administration determined that the vaccine was around 91% effective in preventing Covid-19 in young children, and that their immune response was comparable to that seen in people aged 16 to 25. No serious side effects were found by researchers.

    More countries are expected to follow suit.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Ghana receives more doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine

    The Government of Ghana has received 244,800 additional doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

    The country got the vaccines through the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT) mechanism established by the African Union (AU) and supported by the World Bank on Thursday, September 2, 2021.

    Senior Specialist of Communications & Events at Afreximbank, Ama Amoah, presented the vaccines to Kwabena Boadu Oku Afari, the Chief Director at the Ministry of Health at the Kotoka International Airport.

    While receiving the vaccines, Mr. Oku Afari said the government of Ghana is doing everything possible to secure more vaccines to inoculate citizens against COVID-19 in order to help Ghana reach herd immunity.

    This comes on the back of the earlier arrival of some doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in Ghana.

    Ghana took delivery of its first batch of Johnson & Johnson vaccines (177,600 doses) on August 8, 2021.

    It has since inoculated some citizens in the Greater Accra and Ashanti Regions with the vaccines.

    Ghana is currently vaccinating citizens due to receive their second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccines.

    Ghana received 249,600 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines from the UK government on August 18, 2021.

    The government is expected to take delivery of 1,229,620 Moderna vaccines on Saturday, 4th September 2021.

    According to the Ministry of Information, an additional 1.3 million Pfizer vaccines are also expected in Ghana by the end of this month.

    Source: Citi Newsroom

  • Ghana receives 249,000 AstraZeneca vaccines from the UK government

    Ghana has received an extra 249,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccines from the United Kingdom government.

    This was announced by the UK government through its official Twitter handle, @UKinGhana and retweeted by the Ministry of Health, Ghana, handle @mohgovgh.

    “This morning 249,000 Flag of United Kingdom-donated #COVID19 vaccines arrived at #Kotoka Int. Airport, now they are being transported across Flag of Ghana to health workers, those most in need & those waiting for their 2nd dose. Thank you to our partners: @_GHSofficial, @UNICEF, @gavi, @CEPIvaccines & @mohgovgh,” the tweet read.

    Retweeting this, the Ministry of Health page wrote, “AstraZeneca vaccine. Thank you @UK Government.”

    On August 8, Ghana took delivery of its first batch of 177,600 Johnson & Johnson vaccines to augment the national vaccination exercise against the Coronavirus.

    Ghana has received an extra 249,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccines from the United Kingdom government.

    This was announced by the UK government through its official Twitter handle, @UKinGhana and retweeted by the Ministry of Health, Ghana, handle @mohgovgh.

    “This morning 249,000 Flag of United Kingdom-donated #COVID19 vaccines arrived at #Kotoka Int. Airport, now they are being transported across Flag of Ghana to health workers, those most in need & those waiting for their 2nd dose. Thank you to our partners: @_GHSofficial, @UNICEF, @gavi, @CEPIvaccines & @mohgovgh,” the tweet read.

    Retweeting this, the Ministry of Health page wrote, “AstraZeneca vaccine. Thank you @UK Government.”

    On August 8, Ghana took delivery of its first batch of 177,600 Johnson & Johnson vaccines to augment the national vaccination exercise against the Coronavirus.

    The Johnson & Johnson single-shot Coronavirus vaccines are the first of monthly supplies under an arrangement with the African Union, making the country one of the first in the region to receive the vaccines that were manufactured in Africa, the Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, said in the statement.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • African countries to receive six million Johnson and Johnson vaccines – AU

    Around six million doses of the single-shot Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine will be delivered by the African Union to 27 African nations that have paid for the shipments through the end of August, an AU special envoy said on Thursday.

    AU coronavirus envoy Strive Masiyiwa said 18 countries are finalizing loans from the World Bank and other global lenders before they make payment.
    Deliveries will rise to an average of 10 million a month from September, increasing to 20 million in January until the order is fulfilled by September next year.

    Local vaccine production ‘the answer’

    The balance of Africa’s vaccine requirements will come from donors including COVAX, Masiyiwa said, adding that local production is the real answer.
    “If you want land we will give you. If you want to own everything 100%, we don’t mind, just produce from the African continent,” he told the firms.

    Global pharmaceutical firms should license production of COVID-19 vaccines in Africa rather than just do piecemeal contract deals, Masiyiwa said while speaking a day after Pfizer and BioNTech announced a “fill and finish” deal with South Africa’s Biovac Institute under which it will carry out the final stages of vaccine manufacturing where the product is processed and put into vials.

    Pfizer and BioNTech will handle drug substance production at their facilities in Europe. Medicines Sans Frontiers (MSF) has called the arrangement “restrictive” and said much more is needed to support vaccine independence in Africa.

    “We want to make clear to all suppliers if you want a long-term future with us now, you produce from Africa,” Masiyiwa said.

    Africa, which is battling a third wave of infections, has administered just 60 million vaccine doses in a population of 1.3 billion due to restrictions on shipments from vaccine producing nations like India.

    Many African nations rely on global vaccine sharing scheme COVAX or donations from countries like China and India.

    “For regions left behind in the vaccine race to be self- sufficient, they need access to all of the components of vaccine production,” said Lara Dovifat, manager at MSF’s access campaign, which is seeking equitable vaccine access.

    Matshidiso Moeti, the head of the World Health Organization in Africa, called for local production of vaccines so Africa can tackle future outbreaks.

    “We are looking beyond this crisis,” she told a news conference.
    Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.N), whose vaccine is administered through a single shot, also has a “fill and finish” deal with South Africa’s Aspen Pharmacare (APNJ.J).

    J&J is on track to supply members of the African Union with 400 million vaccine doses by September next year, Masiyiwa said.

    Source: cnn.com

  • Parliament Ad Hoc Committee to probe Sputnik V vaccine contracts

    Parliament on Friday constituted a nine-member Ad Hoc Committee to investigate the procurement contracts between the Government of Ghana and Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum and one other for the supply of Sputnik-V COVID-19 vaccines.

    Deputy Majority Leader Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin is the chairman of the committee, and Mr Kwabena Mintah-Akandoh, Ranking Member on the Health Committee is vice.

    The rest of the members are Dr Nana Ayew Afriyie, Chairman of the Health Committee; Mr Bernard Ahiafor, MP for Akatsi South; Mr Kwame Anyimadu Antwi, MP for Asante-Akim Central, Mr Ernest Norgbey, MP for Ashaiman; Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu-Agyare, MP for Techiman North; Ms Sheila Bartels, MP for Ablekuma North; and Mr Farouk Aliu Mahama, MP for Yendi Constituency.

    Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu announced the names of the members of the Ad hoc Committee to the House.

    He said the terms of reference of the Committee was to determine whether or not the transaction for the procurement and supply of the Sputnik V vaccine between the Government of Ghana (GOG) represented by the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Al Maktoum S.L Group qualifies as international Business or Economic transaction under Article 181(5) of the Constitution, and if so, whether it was subjected to prior approval of Parliament.

    Also, the Committee is to determine the procurement process that was followed and the propriety of same and the prices of the vaccines as well as determine whether the services of the middleman were procured in the transaction and if so, having propriety regard to the relevant laws.

    Additionally, the Committee is to ascertain the cost of the vaccines and the justification of the cost vaccines, and whether the transaction guaranteed value for money for Ghana.

    Moreover, the Committee is to determine whether or not any consideration was passed from the GOG to the middleman, suppliers, or any other person.

    Furthermore, for the Committee to determine or not the Ministry of Health misled Parliament during the consideration of the transaction for the procurement of the vaccine.

    The Committee also to inquire into any other matters connected to the purchase and supply of the Sputnik V vaccine in the agreement between the GOG and the private office of Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum and S.L Global.

    Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu in a comment suggested that the Ad hoc Committee should have been a committee of eight members reflecting the size of each caucus.

    He said the Minority Side has no problem with Mr Afenyo Markin, Chairing the Ad hoc Committee with Mr Kwabena Mintah-Akandoh as his Vice-Chairman.

    The Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mr Andrew Amoako Asiamah who was in the chair commissioned the Ad hoc Committee and ask them to report to the House in three weeks.

    Source: m.peacefmonline.com

  • Second phase of coronavirus vaccination exercise begins in Ashanti

    The second phase of the COVID-19 vaccination exercise took off in the Ashanti Region on Wednesday, with advice to those eligible to avail themselves for the exercise.

    Dr Emmanuel Tenkorang, the Regional Director of Health, said it was targeting those who had received the first jab from March 2 to 9, this year, adding that those qualified to be vaccinated had no reason to stay off.

    “The Health Service is appealing to the people to endeavour to go to the centres where they took their first jabs to receive the second dose,” he told the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Kumasi.

    A total of 250, 000 people in the Region were vaccinated in the first phase of the exercise.

    The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has designated ten centres for the second phase in the Metropolis, including the Maternal and Child Health Hospital, KMA Clinic, Anwiam Clinic, City Hospital, Sepe-Buokrom Health Centre and Anwiam Clinic Annex (Kejetia).

    Others include Moshie Zongo Health Centre, Suntreso Government Hospital, Mater Dei Hospital and Manhyia Hospital.

    The Regional Health Directorate has so far taken delivery of 153, 000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccines for the second phase, Dr Tenkorang said.

    According to the GHS, Ashanti has recorded a total of 15, 568 confirmed cases, out of which 253 had resulted in deaths with the active cases standing at 35.

    Meanwhile, when the GNA visited some of the designated vaccination centres, many of the eligible people were waiting in turns to be vaccinated.

    Source: GNA

  • Coronavirus vaccination phase two: 360,000 persons qualify for second dose

    The Ghana Health Service (GHS) says those who took the first jab of the AstraZeneca vaccines between March 1 and 9,2021 will have to go for the second jab from Wednesday, May 19, at the designated centres in 43 districts.

    Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, the Director-General of the GHS, announced this at a media briefing in Accra on Tuesday, to update the public on the second phase of the COVID-19 vaccination programme.

    He said although 852,047 people were vaccinated and captured into the GHS database during the first phase, only 360,000 qualified for the second dose.

    The second phase of the vaccination exercise is expected to take place from Wednesday, May 19 to May 26, 2021.

    They included frontline health workers, persons with underlying health conditions, frontline security personnel, media practitioners and those who are 60 years and above, as well as members of the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary.

    Dr Kuma-Aboagye explained that those who took the first dose should go to the vaccination centres with their unique COVID-19 Vaccination Card, but those whose cards are missing could still go there with any of the national ID cards, to facilitate easy searching of their names on the database.

    He said the GHS had already sent text messages to those who were due for the second dose, and had specified the vaccination centre and the date one could visit the centre.

    He said after taking the second dose, one’s COVID-19 Card would be replaced with a new one, which has enhanced features such as a hologram and QR Code on it to aid validation.

    So far, he said, the GHS had dispatched all the logistics to the designated centres while vaccinators and field officers had undergone refresher training to improve service delivery.

    The GHS, he said, had also prepared infographic data of the vaccination centres of the 26 districts in the Greater Accra Region,19 districts in the Ashanti Region and two districts in the Central Region to enhance tracing of the vaccination centres.

    The GHS Boss said the AstraZeneca vaccines could provide 76 per cent protection, therefore, it was important to continue wearing nose masks and observing the COVID-19 safety protocols even after the second dose.

    He noted that the side effects experienced upon taken the first jab would still be felt, adding that it takes three weeks for the full immunity of the vaccine to take effect in the body.

    Dr Kuma-Aboagye announced that government was still engaging in bilateral discussions to secure more vaccines even though Ghana would get more vaccines under the African Union COVAX Facility, which is free.

    He said at the moment the country had 16,000 doses of the Russian Sputnik V vaccines and expecting 300,000 more soon.

    The GHS Boss said all the necessary measures had been put in place to prevent the vaccines from going waste as 580 doses went waste during the first phase.

    Ghana took delivery of 350,000 AstraZeneca vaccines on Friday, May 7 from DR Congo’s 1.7 million leftovers and expected to expire on June 24.

    As at May 15, 2021, Ghana’s COVID-19 active cases stood at 1,325 declining from 8,000 cases witnessed during the peak period of the second wave of infections in February, this year.

    So far, 93,456 cumulative cases had been recorded, with 91,384 recoveries/discharges, representing 97.4 per cent recovery and 771 deaths.

    Source: GNA

  • Coronavirus: Ghana begins the second phase of vaccination on May 19 Akufo-Addo

    Ghana will commence the second phase of the COVID-19 vaccination exercise on Wednesday, May 19, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has said.

    Delivering his 25th televised address to the nation on measures his government has put in place to fight against the novel Coronavirus, the President indicated that, the vaccination exercise will take place in 43 districts.

    Akufo-Addo said, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) will issue a directive on the vaccination in the coming week.

    The vaccination is said to end on Wednesday, May 26, 2021.

    “I am happy to announce that beginning Wednesday, May 19 to Wednesday 26 May, the deployment of the second dose of vaccines will take place across the designated vaccination centres in the 43 districts approximately 12 weeks after the first jab as the science prescribes. More details of the deployment will be communicated by the Ghana Health Service in the coming week,” Akufo-Addo said on Sunday, May 16, 2021.

    He added, “…The target is to vaccinate some 20 million Ghanaians at the end of the year.”

    The President, then, cautioned Ghanaians against travelling to high-risk countries if the purposes of the trip is not pressing.

    “There is light at the end of the tunnel,” he assured.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • 20 million Ghanaians to be vaccinated by end of the year Akufo-Addo

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has announced that the government is aiming at vaccinating 20 million Ghanaians against the novel Coronavirus by the end of the year.

    According to him, although there have been some challenges in accessing more vaccines, the target is still to vaccinate that number by end of the year.

    He made this known in his 25th COVID-19 update to the nation on Sunday, May 16, 2021.

    Akufo-Addo said, “…The target is to vaccinate some 20 million Ghanaians at the end of the year.”

    The President, then, cautioned Ghanaians against travelling to high-risk countries if the purposes of the trip is not pressing.

    “There is light at the end of the tunnel,” he assured.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Madagascar starts Covid-19 vaccinations after surge in cases

    Madagascar on Monday rolled out its Covid-19 vaccination campaign. Health Minister Jean Louis Hanitrala Rakotovao was among the first to be inoculated in the capital, Antananarivo.

    The Indian Ocean island nation received its first shipment of 250,000 AstraZeneca jabs on Saturday.

    They followed a surge in infections which saw some schools and community centers transformed into treatment facilities.

    “I’ll be back for the second dose, I’m already ready for it. I encourage people to get vaccinated because it is good to fight against the coronavirus. Many people are infected and have died from this disease,” said Hanitra Lovasoa Rasoarimalala, a civil servant after being vaccinated.

    President Andry Rajoelina has been criticized for his handling of the pandemic.

    Until recently, he had been promoting a herbal concoction as a cure for the virus prompting a warning from the WHO.

    “Our message is that people should be vaccinated. But it is voluntary,” said Issa Sanogo, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Madagascar

    “We can’t force anyone. The president is part of the population, so it is his right to accept or not to accept to be vaccinated, but vaccination is available for everyone,” Sanogo added.

    Madagascar has registered 38,874 infections, including at least 716 deaths.

    Last month, President Rajoelina said the Sinopharm, Pfizer, and Covishield vaccines would also be used in the country’s vaccination drive.

    Source: africanews.com

  • We are worried about the delay in 2nd vaccine procurement GMA

    The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has appealed to the Government to hasten the process of securing second doses of COVID-19 vaccines for the country.

    The association says it is greatly concerned about the possible delay in vaccine procurement for the country.

    Speaking in an interview with Samuel Eshun on the Happy Morning Show, President of the GMA, Dr. Frank Ankobea, said: “We are very worried and we are asking Government to do all it can to ensure that we receive the vaccines.”

    Dr. Ankobea expressed that the association is aware of the “international politics going on” in relation to the vaccines. However, it is confident that as was done for the arrival of the first doses, Government can maneuver its way into acquiring the second doses of the vaccines.

    “Of Course, when the COVAX facility was involved, the Government managed and got the vaccines for Ghanaians. We appreciate that and we are pleading with the Government to put in the same effort in getting us the second one. We are so much worried and we are talking to Government and this is the message we are giving to Government that it should secure these vaccines for us”.

    About a week ago, the Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyemang-Manu urged Ghanaians to be calm and not panic as efforts are being made to import the 2nd dose of the coronavirus vaccines.

    Ghanaians who took the first shots of the vaccines in March are expected to receive 2nd shots of the vaccines to complete vaccination. However, delays in rolling out the second phase is gradually raising fears.

    However, the Minister has said that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is putting in all efforts to ensure that the country gets the second dose of the coronavirus vaccines.

    Source: e.TV Ghana

  • Coronavirus vaccines and fertility: What you need to know

    Even before the world could find a vaccine for coronavirus, a lot of conspiracy theories had been churned out on many platforms including social media. From altering DNAs to enlarging the male sexual organ, misinformation peddlers would not stop at anything to make sure people rejected the vaccines. The misinformation on vaccines became alarming when the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners started rolling out the vaccines.

    In all of this, one of the most circulated claims on social media about the vaccines is that relating to fertility. Several social media users have shared messages regarding this with no particular source cited. Some of them have claimed that men and women who have the intention of getting pregnant in future should not take the vaccine as it may make them sterile and infertile.

    Aside from these social media claims, other people have concerns on the safety of the vaccines in relation to fertility.

    In this report, we find out what experts say about the vaccines and fertility in both men and women.

    Will an approved COVID-19 vaccine make one infertile?

    The general safety of approved COVID-19 vaccines has already been established by the WHO. The organization has indicated that “before receiving validation from WHO and national regulatory agencies, COVID-19 vaccines must undergo rigorous testing in clinical trials to prove that they meet internationally agreed benchmarks for safety and effectiveness.”

    The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine have indicated that it is scientifically unlikely for any of the approved vaccines to cause fertility loss in women.

    “While fertility was not specifically studied in the clinical trials of the vaccine, no loss of fertility has been reported among trial participants or among the millions who have received the vaccines since their authorization, and no signs of infertility appeared in animal studies. Loss of fertility is scientifically unlikely,” the three organizations said in a joint statement.

    Although the America Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has stated that scientists are still studying the vaccines for side effects; there is currently no evidence that any vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, cause fertility problems in humans.

    Do you need to delay getting pregnant after vaccination?

    Furthermore, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has also indicated that people do not need to delay getting pregnant after getting a dose of the vaccine as “there is no evidence that the COVID-19 vaccines cause infertility.”

    According to another publication by University of Chicago School of Medicine, women can still go ahead and take the second dose of the vaccine even after finding out they are pregnant after the first dose. According to the publication, the “only possible risk physicians are currently aware of with the vaccine is the possibility of a fever following the second dose, a side effect experienced by around 10-15% of vaccine recipients.”

    Is it safe for pregnant women to be Vaccinated?

    Although pregnant women were excluded from the trials of all the approved COVID-19 vaccines even though the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists had insisted that they be included, studies have so far shown that the vaccines are safe for pregnant women.

    Nonetheless, a publication by WebMD suggests that Pfizer, one of the pharmaceutical companies producing COVID-19 vaccines, is studying its two-dose vaccine in 4,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women to see how safe the effects of Covid-19 vaccines are. The report further says that the researchers will also look at how safe the vaccine is for infants and whether mothers pass along antibodies to children. Results of this study are expected to be ready by the end of year, according to the report.

    On their website, Pfizer has also indicated that although there is evidence that a very short amino acid sequence in the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 that is partly shared with a protein in the placenta called syncytin-1 is likely to occur after getting a shot; Pfizer says it is scientifically unlikely for that process to cause infertility.

    Is it safe for lactating Women to Be Vaccinated?

    Yes. Experts at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists say it is safe for breastfeeding women to get the vaccine. According to them “there is no need to stop breastfeeding if you want to get a vaccine. After you get vaccinated, the antibodies made by your body can be passed through breastmilk and can help protect your child from the virus.”

    While studies are still being done on the effects of COVID-19 Vaccines, reputable health agencies such as the CDC and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have indicated that none of the vaccines rolled out so far has been found to make men and women infertile.

    Source: ghana.dubawa.org

  • Media urged to educate the public on the vaccine

    The media has been urged to use their various medium to educate the public about the COVID-19 vaccination to clear all the doubts concerning the exercise.

    Mr. Ransford Antwi, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sun City radio, a Sunyani-based radio station observed that constant sensitization would help people psychologically to clear all their fear and the myths about the jab.

    He was speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Sunyani after taking his first jab of the vaccine at the Sunyani Municipal Health Directorate.

    Mr. Antwi said the public has confidence in the media and believed information read and heard in the media because the people have trust that the media gives accurate information both current and past.

    He observed that many people have lost their lives with the COVID-19 infection whilst others were still seriously sick and therefore urged the general public to take advantage and get vaccinated to protect their lives, families and people in their communities.

    Miss Beatrice Dartey, a Midwife at the Municipal Hospital commended the media practitioners and the general public for their enthusiasm to be vaccinated.

    Source: GNA

  • Ghana yet to receive second shots of AstraZeneca vaccines Okoe-Boye

    A former Deputy Health Minister, Bernard Okoe-Boye has disclosed that Ghana only received first shots of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines under the COVAX equitable vaccine sharing platform.

    In late February 2021, Ghana became the first country in the world to receive vaccines under the COVAX platform.

    600,000 shots were delivered to much fanfare at the Kotoka International Airport, KIA; and a national rollout started in early March with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo receiving the first shot.

    Speaking on Tuesday evening (April 6) on the Face To Face program on Accra-based Citi TV, the former deputy minister said Ghana was ready to purchase the second shots if need be.

    “We rolled all (600,000 shots) out, as we speak, I am sure we will be nearing 700,000 (vaccinations). Remember, apart from COVAX, we have had supplies from the Africa medicine supplies platform.

    “We are working hard, the president himself is involved, the Minister of Health is involved, the Ghana Health Service, we are all involved. Remember, if we even have to buy the vaccines outside COVAX, we are willing to do that especially for the second dose,” he added.

    He also disclosed that the government, through the Bank of Ghana, BoG, has raised Letters of Credit to purchase vaccines especially Sputnik V the Russian vaccines passed for emergency use in Ghana last month.

    “As I speak, government is working on LCs to purchase vaccines, some of the Sputnik vaccines, we are looking at buying in the short term about 2 million. In the medium to long term before the end of the year, we are looking at about 10 million from Sputnik.”

    Asked about how long it will take for the jabs to arrive in the country, he assures that once agreements were reached, the supplies could be delivered in under 24 hours.

    “Luckily, most of these are not put on a ship, so a maximum of six, eight or maximum 12 hours and the vaccines are here, anything can happen any day. LCs have gone all the way to Bank of Ghana with Ghana having made commitments to buy them,” he added.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • 90,000 health workers outside COVID-19 epicentres to be vaccinated GHS

    The Ghana Health Service (GHS) will from Monday, March 22, begin the vaccination of 90,000 health workers outside the COVID-19 epicentres in the country.

    The GHS said it would create two vaccination centres in each district to speed up the immunization exercise.

    On Tuesday, March 2, the GHS started the vaccination of people with underlying health conditions, those who are 60 years and above, members of the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary, as well as media practitioners in epicentres of the Coronavirus disease.

    Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, the Director-General of the GHS, in an update on the COVID-19 vaccination programme on Sunday, said the Service had so far vaccinated 468,581 people as of 1130 hours on March 21.

    Out of the figure, 1,575 people reported minor adverse effects, including headaches, fever, pains at injection spot and general bodily pains.

    Of the total 260,954 people were vaccinated in the Greater Accra Region, comprising 126,165 females and 134,789 males and Ashanti Region had vaccinated 195,449 made up of 110,120 females and 84,729 males.

    The Central Region vaccinated 12,178 people, comprising 6,182 females and 5,996 males.

    The government commenced inoculation of COVID-19 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines in 43 districts in the Greater Accra, Central and Ashanti regions, which are regarded as the epicentres of the respiratory disease.

    Dr Kuma-Aboagye stated that no incident of Blood Clotting was reported during its Adverse Events Monitoring Investigations.

    He said contrary to reports of blood clotting in some European countries, Ghana’s vaccination programme was well patronized with over 400,000 people receiving their first jab of the vaccine.

    Dr Kuma-Aboagye said the vaccines were under Emergency Use Authorisation and were not supposed to be administered by private individuals.

    He, therefore, urged the public to report anyone selling or administering doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to any person at a fee for immediate arrest.

    So far, the Police arrested three persons for selling and administering the vaccines without authorisation.

    Dr Kuma-Aboagye said, in the coming weeks, the GHS would take delivery of more vaccines from the COVAX Facility and the African Medicine Platform.

    The government expects to administer 42 million doses of the vaccines to 20 million Ghanaians, with each adult taking two jabs, to create herd immunity for the population.

    Source: 3 News

  • EU’s Vaccine donations to poor countries on hold

    The European Union is not currently in the position to directly donate coronavirus vaccines to poorer countries, said EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

    “There is quite a bit of pressure on member states to obtain the vaccine for themselves,” she told the Funke Media Group.

    However, von der Leyen underscored the EU’s financial support for the COVAX initiative, an effort by the World Health Organization to give poorer countries access to vaccines.

    “The EU has invested 2.2 billion euros [2.6 billion dollars] in this initiative. COVAX has already delivered 30 million doses of vaccine to 52 countries,” she said.

    The mechanism that allows the bloc to share vaccine directly with other countries will not start “until we have a better production situation in the EU,” according to von der Leyen.

    The Commission president had aggressively campaigned for providing vaccines to people around the world back in spring 2020. However, most doses are being administered in rich countries.

    Source: GNA

  • Coronavirus: More than 400,000 persons vaccinated during first phase

    A total of 405,000 persons have been vaccinated against the Covid-19 from March 2 to 18, data from the Extended Programme on Immunization (EPI) of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has shown.

    These are from 43 selected districts in the Greatet Accra, Ashanti and Central regions.

    Those vaccinated include front-line health workers, adults aged 60 years and above, people with underlying health conditions such as diabetes, kidney diseases, hypertension, cancer, frontline security personnel, frontline government officials, the media, and all front-line workers in the formal sector.

    Presently 250,368 persons in Accra, 187,510 persons in Kumasi and 11,293 in the Central Region, have received their first jab of Covishield, the Oxford AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, under the first phase on the exercise.

    In all, 20 million Ghanaians are expected to be vaccinated against the virus.

    Dr Kwame Amponsa Achiano, Programme Manager of the EPI, in an intervew with the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Thursday, said females formed about 62 per cent of the number vaccinated so far.

    He said about 63,033 persons with underlying health conditions, 91,000 adults aged 60 and above, about 72,332 health workers, 23,000 front line security personnel, and over 48,000 essential service workers have received their first jab.

    Similarly, more than 12,000 members of the Executive, Judiciary, Legislature, 60,000 teachers aged 60 and above, 3,063 media personnel and 87,092 members of the public have been vaccinated.

    Dr Amponsah-Achiano said the EPI would, from next week, begin vaccination of health workers in all the 16 regions and expressed delight with the progress so far.

    He said the country had already taken delivery of 15,000 doses of the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine from Russia but it was not in use presently.

    “We have not started using it because that first and second doses of Sputnik V are not the same, the vaccine has a match dosing regimen and unfortunately, we did not get matching quantities, we are putting it on hold for now until we get matching quantities,” he said.

    Dr Amponsah-Achiano said between March and May Ghana would receive additional two million doses of vaccine from the COVAX facility in bits, which could vaccinate three per cent of the population.

    He said Ghana was discussing with the manufactures of Sputnik V to get additional doses, after which they would be administered to the public.

    “We also hope to get additional doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine through other multiple sources including the 17,000 doses announced by the President,” he said.

    Dr Amponsah-Achiano encouraged the public to keep adhering to the COVID-19 safety protocols by wearing a nose mask, observing social distancing, washing hands with soap under running water, or sanitizing hands frequently.

    Coronaviruses are a large group of viruses that are common among animals. In rare cases, they are what scientists call zoonotic, meaning they can be transmitted from animals to humans, according to the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

    It has an incubation period of between four to six days and fatal, especially for those with a weakened immune system; the elderly and the very young. It could also result in pneumonia and bronchitis.

    Source: GNA

  • Coronavirus: More than 400k persons vaccinated during first phase

    A total of 405,000 persons have been vaccinated against the Covid-19 from March 2 to 18, data from the Extended Programme on Immunization (EPI) of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has shown.

    These are from 43 selected districts in the Greater Accra, Ashanti and Central regions.

    Those vaccinated include front-line health workers, adults aged 60 years and above, people with underlying health conditions such as diabetes, kidney diseases, hypertension, cancer, frontline security personnel, frontline government officials, the media, and all front-line workers in the formal sector.

    Presently 250,368 persons in Accra, 187,510 persons in Kumasi and 11,293 in the Central Region, have received their first jab of Covishield, the Oxford AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, under the first phase of the exercise.

    In all, 20 million Ghanaians are expected to be vaccinated against the virus. Dr Kwame Amponsa Achiano, Programme Manager of the EPI, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Thursday, said females formed about 62 per cent of the number vaccinated so far.

    He said about 63,033 persons with underlying health conditions, 91,000 adults aged 60 and above, about 72,332 health workers, 23,000 front line security personnel, and over 48,000 essential service workers have received their first jab.

    Similarly, more than 12,000 members of the Executive, Judiciary, Legislature, 60,000 teachers aged 60 and above, 3,063 media personnel and 87,092 members of the public have been vaccinated.

    Dr Amponsah-Achiano said the EPI would, from next week, begin vaccination of health workers in all the 16 regions and expressed delight with the progress so far.

    He said the country had already taken delivery of 15,000 doses of the Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine from Russia but it was not in use presently.

    “We have not started using it because that first and second doses of Sputnik V are not the same, the vaccine has a match dosing regimen and unfortunately, we did not get matching quantities, we are putting it on hold for now until we get matching quantities,” he said.

    Dr Amponsah-Achiano said between March and May Ghana would receive additional two million doses of vaccine from the COVAX facility in bits, which could vaccinate three per cent of the population.

    He said Ghana was discussing with the manufactures of Sputnik V to get additional doses, after which they would be administered to the public.

    “We also hope to get additional doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine through other multiple sources including the 17,000 doses announced by the President,” he said.

    Dr Amponsah-Achiano encouraged the public to keep adhering to the COVID-19 safety protocols by wearing a nose mask, observing social distancing, washing hands with soap under running water, or sanitizing hands frequently.

    Coronaviruses are a large group of viruses that are common among animals.

    In rare cases, they are what scientists call zoonotic, meaning they can be transmitted from animals to humans, according to the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

    It has an incubation period of between four to six days and fatal, especially for those with a weakened immune system; the elderly and the very young. It could also result in pneumonia and bronchitis.

    Source: GNA

  • Coronavirus: First consignment of 600,000 vaccine doses exhausted

    Almost all 600,000 doses of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine received from the COVAX facility have been distributed in the first phase of the vaccination exercise.

    Dr Kwame Amponsah-Achiano, the Programme Manager of the Extended Programme on Immunization (EPI), said the first consignment received in February were almost exhausted and, so far, the programme had not received any report of vaccine rejection in any of the 43 districts they were deployed to.

    He told the Ghana News Agency in an Interview in Accra that there was more pressure on the vaccine now than before with less than five per cent wastage recorded.

    Dr Amponsah-Achiano said the EPI would, from next week, begin vaccination of all health workers in all the 16 regions adding that the Ghana Health Service was happy with the outcome of the first phase.

    ”The initial hesitancy was quiet problematic, but between the time we received the vaccine and the time we started the roll out, a lot has changed, the apprehension went down, and so far we have distributed all the vaccines,” he said.

    He said the country had already taken delivery of 15,000 doses of the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine from Russia but it was not in use presently.

    “We have not started using it because that first and second doses of Sputnik V are not the same, the vaccine has a match dosing regimen and unfortunately, we did not get matching quantities, we are putting it on hold for now until we get matching quantities,” he said.

    Dr Amponsah-Achiano said between now and May, Ghana would receive additional two million doses of vaccine from the COVAX facility in bits, which could vaccinate three per cent of the population.

    He said Ghana was discussing with the manufactures of Sputnik V to get additional doses, after which they would be administered to the public.

    ”We also hope to get additional doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine through other multiple sources including the 17,000 doses announced by the President,” he said.

    Dr Amponsah-Achino encouraged the public to keep adhering to the COVID-19 safety protocols by wearing a nose mask, observing social distancing, washing hands with soap under running water, or sanitizing hands frequently.

    Coronaviruses are a large group of viruses that are common among animals. In rare cases, they are what scientists call zoonotic, meaning they can be transmitted from animals to humans, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

    It has an incubation period of four to six days and fatal, especially for those with a weakened immune system the elderly and the very young. It could also result in pneumonia and bronchitis.

    Source: GNA

  • Niger government to bar appointees who refuse vaccination from meetings

    The Governor of Niger State, Abubakar Bello has flagged off the COVID-19 vaccination in the state after taking delivery of the AstraZeneca Covid vaccine.

    According to the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mary Noel-Berje, Bello was administered a jab by his physician, Dr Shehu Ahmed, at the Government House, Minna the state capital.

    Noel-Berje who issued a statement on Wednesday also revealed that members of the state executive council were vaccinated during the flag-off.

    According to the statement, “The Governor directed that any council member that refuses to get vaccinated should be barred from council meetings subsequently.”

    The Governor said it is necessary to get vaccinated even though some concerns have been raised by some persons in the public, adding the state government was doing everything possible to fight the COVID19 pandemic.

    “We all need it, once it is done, we will be able to convince Nigerlites that it is safe,” he said.

    He applauded the State Primary Healthcare for standing up to the occasion especially in the fight against the deadly virus.

    Source: punchng.com

  • Coronavirus: Ghana to take delivery of 17,600,000 vaccine doses by June – Akufo-Addo

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo says Ghana will take delivery of 17,600,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines by June 2021, with more to come in the year.

    Delivering the State of the Nation Address (SONA) in Accra on Tuesday, he said a total of 262,335 Ghanaians had received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccines as at 1030 hours on March 9, 2021.

    He said the Government was working hard towards realising its goal to vaccinate 20 million Ghanaians and called for the support of all.

    The president urged Members of Parliament (MPs) to get involved in the ongoing public education campaign on the coronavirus vaccination programme, saying “…Together, with strict compliance with the safety protocols, is what will allow us to open up our country again and embark on the quest to restore normalcy to our lives and livelihoods.”

    He said the Government was collaborating with the private sector to establish 14 medical waste treatment facilities across the country to ensure the safe and proper disposal of medical waste such as vials, needles and syringes being used in the coronavirus vaccination exercise.

    President Akufo-Addo said locally, 14,600,000 pieces of Personal Protective Equipment had so far been produced for health workers, students, teaching and non-teaching staff of tertiary and secondary educational institutions.

    He said the Government would continue to invest in the health sector, and recruit more professionals to improve healthcare delivery in the country.

    He expressed gratitude to all frontline healthcare workers for their devotion to duty and sense of patriotism, saying the pandemic had emphasised the need to expand access to healthcare for every Ghanaian, irrespective of location.

    The President said, last year, 33 major health projects were approved for implementation at a cost of €890 million.

    “Key amongst them are the Koforidua Regional Hospital, Tema General Hospital, the Nephrology and Urology Centre at Korle-Bu, Redevelopment of the Effia Nkwanta Hospital into a Teaching Hospital, and the Construction of a new Regional Hospital at Agona Nkwanta in the Western Region,” he said.

    He stated that electronic medical records system (E-Health) deployment was currently underway, following its implementation in key health facilities like Korle-Bu, Komfo-Anokye, Ho, Tamale and Cape Coast teaching hospitals, and several district hospitals in the Central Region.

    President Akufo-Addo said the Upper East, Upper West, and Bono regional hospitals would go live on the e-health platform in the next five days.

    Source: GNA

  • Coronavirus vaccination app to be used in booking appointment for vaccination

    The Director General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye has indicated that people going for the COVID-19 vaccination in Ghana, would have to use the vaccination APP to book an appointment or pre-register before going to the vaccination centre.

    Dr Kuma-Aboagye, who made this known said the GHS was going to adopt a locally developed APP for that purpose.

    “We are currently going to adopt a locally developed APP, which will allow us to be able to do scheduling, he said.

    “we can do a pre-registration before you go and vaccinate, we can do appointment system for you to go and vaccinate to know where to go and vaccinate, it will generate your COVID passport for you, so we know all those who have vaccinated, and the database will be in Ghana and whatever the world decides, we will have enough database locally to be able to respond appropriately and learn from how, including checking those who have had positive, whether they have had vaccination or not.”

    Dr Kuma-Aboagye who made this known at a press briefing at Peduase Lodge in the Eastern Region on Monday [March 7, 2021] said the database will be in Ghana and it will enable the GHS to be able to respond and learn accordingly.

    He said they are currently doing a test run of the APP.

    Next steps

    Giving an update on the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana, Dr Kuma-Aboagye said the next steps in the fight is that Ghana will continue to pursue additional vaccines for health workers in other districts and regions for them to be vaccinated.

    As of Sunday night, over 200,000 people had received the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine in the exercise which started on Tuesday, March 2, 2021.

    At the moment a total 650,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine have been received in Ghana, 600,000 from COVAX facility and 50,000 as a donation from the Indian government.

    Dr Kuma-Aboagye said the figure could even go up to about 300,000 for the six days exercise as some of the data were collected on paper due to data entry delays and enthusiasm from the public to take the vaccine.

    Therefore, he projects that by the time all the data is entered and synched, an approximate 300,000 would have been vaccinated in the last six days.

    He added that there were plans to acquire additional Cold Chain equipment including ultra negative freezers as well as sustain public education on adherence to safety protocols and vaccine uptake.

    Benefits of APP

    Once the app is downloaded onto an iOS (Apple) or Android smartphone, the user enters information such as bio-data including age and or existing medical conditions.

    The user then receives reminders when vaccinations are due, following the national vaccination schedule.

    A record of the vaccination is kept on the smartphone.

    The app also provides direct links to the national immunization schedule and other useful online information resources [COVID Passport.

    Source: Ghana Guardian

  • Government to receive extra two million coronavirus vaccines by May

    Ghana will receive an additional two million AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines from the COVAX Facility by the end of May, this year.

    That would boost the country’s COVID-19 vaccination programme and aid the government’s quest to vaccinate about 20 million Ghanaians.

    So far, Ghana had received more than 700,000 COVID-19 vaccines for her vaccination programme.

    Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, the Director-General, Ghana Health Service, announced this during a COVID-19 Update at the Peduase Lodge in the Eastern Region on Monday.

    He said the government was making frantic efforts to secure Cold Chain equipment that was capable of storing vaccines under negative temperatures.

    He said the Service had, so far, vaccinated 300,000 people since the COVID-19 mass vaccination programme started on March 2, 2021.

    Out of the number, 129 persons reported various adverse effects including dizziness, pains at the spot of the injection and mild fever after taking the vaccines.

    Those who received doses of the AstraZeneca vaccines included, health care workers, persons with underlying health conditions, essential service providers and those who were 60 years and above, as well as members of the security agencies, Executive, Legislature and Judiciary branches of government.

    Dr Kuma-Aboagye said the GHS targeted 570,000 people in the first phase of the vaccination, but the number of people vaccinated and registered onto the electronic database system within a week, had exceeded 70 per cent threshold.

    He applauded the media for intensifying sensitisation on the vaccine, which encouraged Ghanaians to voluntarily avail themselves of the vaccination.

    Dr Kuma-Aboagye stated that some of the vaccines were delivered to the various health centres via Zipline Drone Delivery Service.

    The GHS Boss announced that a locally- developed App would soon be launched to aid in the appointment and registration of people onto the electronic database system to speed up the vaccination programme.

    The mass vaccination exercise will continue till the end of October, this year.

    About 20 million Ghanaians are expected to be vaccinated although the government’s ambition is to vaccinate the entire population.

    Government of Ghana received its first batch of Oxford AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, under the Global Access(COVAX Facility) on Wednesday, February 24, 2021.

    Source: GNA

  • Coronavirus vaccination: GHS vaccinates 300,000 people within a week

    The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has, so far, vaccinated 300,000 people since the COVID-19 mass vaccination programme started on March 2, 2021.

    Those who received doses of the AstraZeneca vaccines included, health care workers, persons with underlying health conditions, essential service providers and those who were 60 years and above, as well as members of the security agencies, Executive, Legislature and Judiciary branches of government and the Media.

    Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, Director-General of the GHS, announced this at Peduase Lodge in the Eastern Region, during a media update on Monday, after a three-day Cabinet Retreat.

    He said the GHS targeted 570,000 people in the first phase of the vaccination, but the number of people vaccinated and registered onto the electronic database system within a week, had exceeded the 70 per cent threshold.

    He applauded the media for intensifying sensitisation programme on the vaccine, which encouraged Ghanaians to voluntarily avail themselves of the vaccination.

    So far, he said, Ghana had received 750,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccines from the COVAX Facility and expected to receive extra two million vaccines by the end of May, this year.

    Dr Kuma-Aboagye stated that some of the vaccines were delivered to the various health centres via Zipline Drone Delivery Service.

    Also, a decision had been made by the government to undertake a special vaccination programme for all health workers across the country although the initial arrangement was to vaccinate only people in 43 districts, which fall within the epicentres of the Coronavirus disease.

    Government is also making frantic efforts to secure Cold Chain equipment that is capable to storing vaccines under negative temperatures.

    The GHS Boss announced that a locally- developed App would soon be launched to aid in the appointment and registration of people onto the electronic database system to speed up the vaccination programme.

    The mass vaccination exercise will continue till the end of October, this year.

    About 20 million Ghanaians are expected to be vaccinated although the government’s ambition is to vaccinate the entire population.

    Government of Ghana received its first batch of Oxford AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, under the Global Access(COVAX Facility) on Wednesday, February 24,2021.

    Source: GNA

  • Coronavirus vaccine not for sale – NCCE tells Ghanaians

    The Municipal Director of the National Commission for Civic Education in the Ga Central Municipality, Cynthia Anima Boadu, has asked the public not to pay for the COVID-19 vaccination because it is free.

    She told Kwabena Agyapong on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm that the vaccination is not for sale, and the public should watch for persons who would be demanding money from them to facilitate the process for them to be vaccinated.

    She explained that the process is free for persons who have been categorised to take the jabs.

    She further indicated that the vaccination is not a cure for the covid-19 but an enhanced safety protocol that is meant to reduce the spikes in the covid-19 virus.

    The public she added must follow the safety protocols of mask-wearing, the washing of hands with soap and water as well as observing social distancing.

    According to her, the immune system would be fully built against any severe effects of the covid-19 virus after the second jab has been administered.

    She stressed that the vaccine is a cure for covid-19 but an enhanced measure to help reduce the rate of infections and fatalities.

    President Akufo-Addo in his 24th address to the nation on measures taken to manage the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak said the Covid-19 vaccines are safe and would not pose any threat to the health of any citizen.

    “I know there are still some who continue to express doubts about the vaccine, others have expressed reservations about its efficacy, with some taking sides with conspiracy theorists who believe the vaccine has been created to wipe out the African race.

    “This is far from the truth. As your President, I want to assure you that the vaccine is safe,” he said.

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • Coronavirus: Prominent personalities who have taken vaccine shots

    Vaccine skepticism has been a major issue amid the increasing spread of conspiracy theories being spread across social media platforms.

    As a result, governments especially in Africa have been tasked with the need to instill confidence in the safety and reliability of doses imported into the country.

    Ghana made history when it became the first country in the world to receive vaccines under the WHO-led COVAX facility in mid-week of last week. President Akufo-Addo last Monday became the first person to receive a COVAX dose in the world.

    He said the decision to publicly take his shot was to show that the vaccine was safe. He received his shot at the 37 Military Hospital along with First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo.

    On the same day, Vice-president Bawumia and his wife Samira also received their shots at the Police Hospital. Government planned for a number of prominent personalities to receive their jabs to boost public confidence.

    GhanaWeb chronicles a number of public personalities to have received their jabs.

    1. President and First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo
    2. Vice President Mahamadu Bawumia and Second Lady Samira Bawumia
    3. Former President John Dramani Mahama and wife Lordina Mahama
    4. Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu
    5. National Chief Imam, Sheikh Dr Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu
    6. Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, Chief of Staff
    7. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, Director-General of Ghana Health Service
    8. Electoral Commission chairperson Jean Mensa
    9. Health Minister Kwaku Agyeman-Manu
    10. Former President John Agyekum Kufuor
    11. Enoch Teye Mensah – Former MP, current Council of State member
    12. Aaron Mike Oquaye – Immediate past Speaker of Parliament
    13. University of Ghana Vice Chancellor, Ebenezer Oduro Owusu
    https://twitter.com/MBawumia/status/1366441639779172358?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1366441639779172358%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ghanaweb.com%2FGhanaHomePage%2FNewsArchive%2FCoronavirus-Prominent-personalities-who-have-taken-vaccine-shots-1196536
    https://twitter.com/moigovgh/status/1366365033056329729?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1366365033056329729%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ghanaweb.com%2FGhanaHomePage%2FNewsArchive%2FCoronavirus-Prominent-personalities-who-have-taken-vaccine-shots-1196536

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Hearts of Oak Board Chairman Togbe Afede endorses Coronavirus vaccination exercise

    Board Chairman of Accra Hearts of Oak, Togbe Afede XIV, has urged Ghanaians to disregard information about the COVID-19 vaccine.

    Togbe Afede who is also the Agbogbomefia of Asogli State, has urged Chiefs in the traditional area to help mobilize the people to take the COVID-19 vaccine.

    He said the involvement of the chiefs would help fight misinformation and encourage the people to get vaccinated against the virus.

    Togbe Adzie Lakle Howusu XII, Awafiaga of Asogli State, said this on behalf of Togbe Afede, when he donated 7,500 nose masks to the Chiefs in the Traditional Area.

    The masks are to be distributed to the people within the various traditional areas to protect them against the virus.

    He said while the COVID-19 vaccination started to roll, there was still considerable vaccine scepticism among segments of the population and urged Chiefs to persuade the people by taking the shots.

    Togbe Howusu said people should not lower their guard to lead reckless lifestyles after the vaccination but should continue to follow the COVID-19 protocols of wearing nose masks, frequent washing of hands under running water with soap and the use of hand sanitizers and social distancing.

    Source: footballmadeinghana.com

  • Coronavirus vaccine doesnt cause infertility

    Dr Louisa Matey, Ayawaso West Municipal Director of Health Services, has debunked claims that COVID-19 vaccines cause infertility in men and women.

    She said the vaccines were scientifically verified by the World Health Organisation and fit for purpose, urging residents of the Ayawaso West Municipality to come out in their numbers to get vaccinated.

    Dr Louisa Matey said this at the launch of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign for the Municipality.

    The event, organised by the Municipal Assembly in collaboration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (N&MC), saw the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Municipal Health Director, Registrar and staff of the N&MC, among others, took turns to get vaccinated.

    Dr Matey said the Municipality was the first to start the vaccination programme due to the high rate of infection in the area and said the programme would be undertaken in 12 days at 24 health centres, three of them being static centres, with the remaining being mobile sites.

    She said after the 12 days, they would break for eight weeks and resume for the second dose.

    The Municipal Health Director said they were hoping to administer at least 4,000 doses of vaccines in the Municipality with a focus on frontline health workers, chronically ill patients, frontline security personnel, persons over 60 years of age.

    Mrs Sandra Owusu Ahinkorah, MCE of the Municipality, said the Municipal Assembly would ignite the vaccination sensitisation and education campaign in the various communities to get residents vaccinated.

    She entreated the public to get vaccinated so they could protect themselves and others to help stop the spread of the virus.

    “The vaccine is real and effective. It has no side effects of infertility, death, whatsoever. So I am urging all residents of the Ayawaso West Municipality to come out in their numbers and get vaccinated,” she added.

    Mr Felix Nyante, Registrar of the N&MC, urged all nurses and midwives to get vaccinated to inspire the public and prove that the vaccines were safe.

    Source: GNA

  • GMA CEO takes the first dose of Coronavirus vaccine

    The leadership by example trend continues today as executives of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) and the National Media Commission (NMC) take the COVID-19 vaccine.

    This exercise comes a day after President Akufo-Addo, Veep, the first and second ladies of the land took their first shots of the vaccine.

    Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Global Media Alliance (GMA), Ernest Boateng who doubles as the Vice President of GIBA was present at the Accra International Press Centre earlier today to also receive the vaccine.

    Sharing his experience with the press after the vaccination, he motioned that the exercise was seamless and only felt a tingling sensation after the syringe was pushed through his skin. “The exercise is a sound one and I will strongly advise every Ghanaian to take the vaccine. I took the vaccine to protect myself and my family and everyone should do the same”.

    Addressing rumours on the vaccine inhibiting potency in men and fertility in women, he indicated that none of these fears have been scientifically proven and advised Ghanaians to rather listen to advise from medical health experts on the vaccine.

    He advised all journalists receiving their first dose to carefully keep their vaccination cards and present them for their second dose.

    The mass COVID-19 vaccination for Ghanaians started with President Akufo-Addo, his wife Rebecca, Vice President Bawumia and his wife Samira taking the first jabs on Monday morning. This symbolic action was to build confidence in the vaccine among citizens.

    It marked the beginning of the deployment of the 600,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines from Tuesday, March 2 to Monday, March 15, 2021, by the Ghana Health Service (GHS).

    Source: Happy 98.9FM

  • Coronavirus: Asantehene, wife vaccinated

    The Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and his wife Lady Julia have on Tuesday, March 2, 2021, taken the COVID-19 vaccination jab.

    Some sub-chiefs of the Asante Monarch including the Paramount Chief of Asante Mampong, Daasebre Osei Bonsu II; Akyempemhene, Oheneba Adusei Poku among others were also vaccinated.

    The vaccination exercise took place at the Manhyia palace in Kumasi, the Ashanti regional capital.

    Addressing the media, Dr. Emmanuel Tenkorang, the Ashanti Regional Health Director, said they have taken delivery of 150,000 vaccines and are expected to vaccinate 146,000 people.

    The vaccination exercise, he said is expected to take place in 14 districts within the Kumasi and the two Districts in Obuasi, being Obuasi East District and Obuasi Municipal Assemblies.

    The vaccination exercise commenced today nationwide.

    The first to be vaccinated are frontline health workers, security agencies, people with chronic disease, and people aged 60 and above.

    Leading political figures like the President his vice and their wives have already been vaccinated.

    Source: Class FM

  • Coronavirus vaccines: I came in the normal way to see the reality on the ground – Former Speaker

    Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye, the immediate past Speaker of Parliament, has applauded the professionalism that is characterizing the ongoing vaccination process for the novel Coronavirus pandemic in the country.

    He said that he decided to appear at the vaccination center at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge Hospital) the “normal way,” just to see for himself, how the process was going on.

    And in his confession, he was truly impressed with the things he saw and how they were going.

    “It is well organized – very very well organized. In fact, I wanted to come in the normal way to see the reality on the ground for myself. We just came in, and you could see that people are orderly in the line, the nurses and other officials know exactly what to do, and they lead you on, they sanitize you again for the process and then you go through the exercise without any qualms or difficulty. I appreciate the whole thing,” he said.

    After taking his jab, the former Speaker shared his experience with a cross-section of the media, calling on all persons given the chance to go in and be vaccinated, damning any superstitions.

    “No, it’s not painful. It’s like any other easy jab. It’s nothing wonderful and it’s a matter of scientific development. And I will plead will all others who are skeptical, kindly let us do the right thing and let us stop worrying over all manner of things.

    “You know in this country, superstition, if you follow superstition to a certain degree, you won’t go to even the hospital when you are sick. Everything, you’ll give it all manner of interpretations… so let us leave some of these things behind, including the fact that some are bringing all kinds of politics into it. The president himself has done it and he really has shown a good way,” he admonished.

    Ghana became the first country in the world to receive the first 600,000 doses of the vaccines from the COVAX facility on Wednesday, February 24, 2021.

    As part of leadership and as a way of demystifying the myths surrounding the vaccines, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, his wife, the Vice President, Mahamudu Bawumia, and his wife, all took the vaccines on live TV, being the first in the country to do so.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Coronavirus mass vaccination begins today

    COVID-19 vaccination begins today in 43 districts in three regions of the country.

    The regions are: Greater Accra-25 districts, Ashanti-16 districts and Central-two districts.

    This will mark the beginning of a nationwide exercise expected to vaccinate 20 million Ghanaians against the virus.

    Front line health workers, adults aged 60 years and above, people with underlining health conditions such as diabetes, kidney diseases, hypertension, cancer, frontline security personnel, frontline government officials, and all front line workers in the formal sector are in the first group of people for the mass vaccination.

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, together with their spouses, showed leadership by being the first to take shots of the AstraZeneca vaccine on Monday, March 1, 2021, ahead of the mass immunisation.

    The vaccination is expected to run from March to October, 2021.

    A total of 12,500 vaccinators, 2,000 supervisors and 37,413 volunteers will facilitate the vaccination exercise across all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies in the country.

    Coronaviruses are a large group of viruses that are common among animals.

    In rare cases, they are what scientists call zoonotic, meaning they can be transmitted from animals to humans, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

    It has incubation period between 4-6 days and fatal, especially for those with weakened immune system – the elderly and the very young.

    It could also result in pneumonia and bronchitis.

    Ghana has since the outbreak of the pandemic in March 2020, recorded over 84, 023 cases, 77,972 recoveries and 607 deaths.

    On Wednesday, February 24, Ghana became the first country in the world to receive the COVAX COVID-19 facility when it received about 600,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccines produced by the Serum Institute of India.

    Source: GNA

  • Vaccines are safe, get the jabs and protect yourself – President urges

    As Ghana kicks off its COVID-19 immunization process on Tuesday, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has urged citizens to come out and get vaccinated.

    He implored Ghanaians not to be taken in by the negative narrative about the coronavirus vaccines, as the jabs remained the only protection against the impact of the pandemic, assuring that the inoculation had been duly certified by the FFA and was safe.

    “I know there are still some who continue to express doubts about the vaccine, others have expressed reservations about its efficacy, with some taking sides with conspiracy theorists who believe the vaccine has been created to wipe out the African race.

    “This is far from the truth. Our domestic regulatory agency, FDA, one of the most reputable in Africa and in the world, has certified the safe use of the vaccine. It will not do so if it had any reservations about the safety of the vaccine,” the President said in a televised national address on Sunday to give an update on Ghana’s enhanced response to the pandemic.

    He reiterated that no vaccine will be deployed in the country for use without the express certification of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA).

    President Akufo-Addo stated that the vaccination process will help protect the citizens against the health impacts of COVID-19, adding, that exercise was also “a major catalyst to restoring livelihoods and the national economy to the robust level it belongs.”

    “Taking the vaccine will not alter your DNA, it will not embed a tracking device in your body, neither will it cause infertility in women or in men. As your President, I want to assure you that the vaccine is safe,” he added.

    Ghana last Wednesday secured the first batch of 600,000 doses of the UN-arranged COVAX vaccines manufactured by AstraZeneca in India.

    The Ghana Health Service will from Tuesday, March 2, to Monday, March 15, 2021, deploy of the 600,000 AstraZeneca vaccines.

    Persons who would be inoculated during this first vaccination campaign include healthcare workers, frontline security personnel, persons with underlying medical conditions, persons 60 years and above, and frontline members of the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary.

    Others who would benefit from the 600,000 doses also include the rest of the security agencies, and essential services providers such as water and electricity supply services, teachers and students, supply and distribution of fuels, farmers and food value chain, telecommunications services, air traffic and civil aviation control services, meteorological services, air transport services, waste management services, media, public and private commercial transport services, the CEPS Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, and other members of the Executive, Judiciary, and Legislature.

    Presidemt Akufo-Addo, ahead of the roll-out of the vaccines will on live television on Monday, March 1, 2021, receive the first dose of the AstraZeneca Vaccine at the 37th Military Hospital in Accra, to persuade the Ghanaian public that shots are safe.

    First lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo, Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawuma and his wife Samira will also be taking shots along with the President.

    Key public officials such as the Speaker and Members of Parliament, the Chief Justice and Justices of the Superior Court of Judicature, Chairperson and Members of the Council of State, the Chief of Staff and senior officials at the Office of the President, and prominent personalities like some Eminent Clergy, the National Chief Imam, the Asantehene, the Ga Mantse, and some media practitioners will also, on Tuesday, take the jab publicly.

    The AstraZeneca vaccine is one of two vaccines that have, so far, been approved and declared as safe-for-use by the FDA.

    Source: GNA

  • Frimpong Boateng chairs committee to ensure locally produced coronavirus vaccines

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has revealed that steps are being taken to ensure that coronavirus vaccines are produced locally as part of the fight against the virus in Ghana.

    Mr Akufo-Addo said in an address to the nation on Sunday February 28 that a committee to that effect which is chaired by a former Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Professor Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, has been formed.

    “I want to reiterate my determination that we should manufacture our own vaccines here in Ghana. To that end, a Committee has been established under the Chairmanship of a former Minister for Environment ,Science, Technology and Innovation, the world renowned scientist, Professor Kwabena Frimpong Boateng which is formulating a concrete plan of action towards vaccine development and manufacturing,” Mr Akufo-Addo said.

    Mr Akufo-Addo further said that the Vaccines Deployment Plan Ghana submitted to the World Health Organization (WHO) for approval was well received.

    His comment follows the arrival of the vaccines into the country.

    “We are the first country in the world be recipient of vaccines from the COVAX facility. I want to express my appreciation to members of the COVID-19 taskforce which I chair and to officials of the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service for this commendable feat.

    “The vaccine deployment plan we submitted to the WHO was well received. We are grateful also, naturally to the managers of the COVAX facility.”

    He assured that the vaccines is safe for Ghanaians. Mr Akufo-Add0o told the nation that he and his wife the First Lady as well as the Vice President and his wife will public take the vaccines as a way of motivating to get vaccinated.

    Source: 3 News

  • Roll out of vaccination campaign does not mean you shouldnt wear nose mask Akufo-Addo

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said that the arrival of the coronavirus vaccines in Ghana does not mean that Ghanaians should no longer observe all the protocols outlined to tackle the virus.

    The COVAX Facility on 23 February delivered 600 000 doses of the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine to Ghana, making it the first African country to receive the vaccines.

    Addressing the nation on Sunday February 28, Mr Akufo-Addo said “The roll out of the vaccination campaign does not mean we should let our guard down and discard the safety protocols that have served us well thus far.”

    Following the arrival of the vaccines, information Minister-designate Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, said the vaccines will be deployed to health facilities from Tuesday, March 2.

    “Covid-19 vaccination will be conducted in phases among segmented populations,” Mr Oppong Nkrumah, who is also the Member of Parliament for Ofoase Ayirebi Constituency, stated.

    “The first segment of the population that will receive from the 600,000 doses will be health workers, adults 60 years and over, people with underlying health conditions, frontline executive, legislature, judiciary and their related staff, frontline security personnel, some religious leaders, essential workers, teachers and other personalities in Greater Accra Metro including Awutu Senya West and Awutu Senya East in the Central Region.

    “A similar segmented population in the Greater Kumasi Metro and Obuasi municipality will also be covered.”

    He said the government remains resolute at ensuring the welfare of all Ghanaians “and is making frantic efforts to acquire vaccines to cover the entire population through bilateral and multilateral agencies”.

    He acknowledged the “hardwork” of the technical teams of stakeholders including the Ghana Health Service, the Ministry of Health and the Covid-19 Task Force.

    “Our development partners are also acknowledged for their tremendous financial and technical support.

    “It is our hope that they will continue to support us in our sustained efforts in combating this virus and putting Covid-19 behind us.”

    Source: 3 News

  • Coronavirus vaccines will not cause infertility Akufo-Addo

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has dismissed concerns that the coronavirus vaccines will cause infertility in men or women.

    Addressing the nation on the arrival of the vaccines into the country, on Sunday February 28, Mr Akufo-Addo said “Taking the vaccines will not alter your DNA it will not embed a tracking device in your body, neither will it cause infertility in women and men.”

    President Akufo-Addo further said that the arrival of the coronavirus vaccines in Ghana does not mean that Ghanaians should no longer observe all the protocols outlined to tackle the virus.

    The COVAX Facility on 23 February delivered 600 000 doses of the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine to Ghana, making it the first African country to receive the vaccines.

    Mr Akufo-Addo said “The roll out of the vaccination campaign does not mean we should let our guard down and discard the safety protocols that have served us well thus far.”

    Following the arrival of the vaccines, information Minister-designate Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, said the vaccines will be deployed to health facilities from Tuesday, March 2.

    “Covid-19 vaccination will be conducted in phases among segmented populations,” Mr Oppong Nkrumah, who is also the Member of Parliament for Ofoase Ayirebi Constituency, stated.

    “The first segment of the population that will receive from the 600,000 doses will be health workers, adults 60 years and over, people with underlying health conditions, frontline executive, legislature, judiciary and their related staff, frontline security personnel, some religious leaders, essential workers, teachers and other personalities in Greater Accra Metro including Awutu Senya West and Awutu Senya East in the Central Region.

    “A similar segmented population in the Greater Kumasi Metro and Obuasi municipality will also be covered.”

    He said the government remains resolute at ensuring the welfare of all Ghanaians “and is making frantic efforts to acquire vaccines to cover the entire population through bilateral and multilateral agencies”.

    He acknowledged the “hardwork” of the technical teams of stakeholders including the Ghana Health Service, the Ministry of Health and the Covid-19 Task Force.

    “Our development partners are also acknowledged for their tremendous financial and technical support.

    “It is our hope that they will continue to support us in our sustained efforts in combating this virus and putting Covid-19 behind us.”

    Source: 3 News

  • Ignore propaganda against coronavirus vaccine Dr Asare

    Dr William Collins Asare, Fund Administrator, COVID-19 National Trust Fund, has urged Ghanaians to ignore the false claims against the potency of the COVID-19 vaccines.

    He said the vaccines were safe and being used in other countries and encouraged the public to make themselves available for the vaccination exercise, scheduled to start this week.

    He noted that the United Kingdom and the United States of America were reported to have experienced a reduction in the number of cases when they started vaccinating their citizens.

    Mr Asare was speaking at the climax of the first phase of a nationwide COVID-19 awareness campaign at the Art Centre in Accra.

    It was organised by the Centre for National Culture under the auspices of the National Commission on Culture, and partnered by Rescue Volunteers. He said to curb the spread, the Fund would continue to empower its partners to intensify education and sensitisation in the communities and called for support from all.

    The second phase of the educational campaign would also focus on debunking the myths and fallacies surrounding the covid-19 mass vaccination programme.

    Additionally, Mr Asare said the exponential rise in the COVID-19 cases in Ghana presented a challenge to all and urged the citizenry to keep to the protocols.

    Madam Janet Edna Nyame, the Executive Director, National Commission on Culture, said the programme covered 33 selected communities in six regions.

    She said the team adopted drama, dance, puppetry and poetry, which had proven to be effective methods of public education and sensitisation, throughout the campaign.

    Madam Nyame said the vaccines were not different from those used to prevent infections like poliomyelitis and measles and encouraged all to partake in the vaccination.

    Mrs Alice Alima Kala, the Director, Centre for National Culture, said the first phase of the campaign was held in some major markets in the capital including the Makola, Dodowa, and Kpone-Katamanso markets and climaxed at the Art Centre.

    Ms Lydia Tsotsoo Odai-Tettey, Country Coordinator, Rescue Volunteers, said the team donated 150 branded T-Shirts, 2,000 pieces of nose masks and 450 bottles of hand sanitizers to assist participants and the traders to keep safe of the virus.

    She emphasised the need for social distancing in markets and crowded areas.

    Madam Mercy Naa Afrowa Needjan, the President, Greater Accra Markets Association, urged traders not to remove their masks when attending to customers, while adhering to all the protocols

    Source: GNA

  • Coronavirus vaccine will protect us – Akufo-Addo assures

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has stated that the Covid-19 vaccine received will help protect us against the impact of Covid-19 on our health when taken.

    He also said the vaccine is also a major catalyst to restoring livelihoods and the national economy to the robust level it belongs.

    He said this during his 24th update on measures taken against the spread of the coronavirus disease.

    President Akufo-Addo encouraged faith-based groups, civil societies, the media and all Ghanaians to support the public education campaign associated with the exercise.

    “We need all hands on deck to make this a success,” he said.

    Ghana took delivery of 600,000 doses of AstraZeneca Vaccine on 24th February 2021.

    Rollout of the vaccine will begin on Tuesday, March 2,2021 at 43 epicenter districts accros the country.

    Meanwhile, the President assured that the vaccine is safe and will not kill people as speculated, stating that himself and his wife, others, will take it publicly for all to see it is not harmful.

    He urged all to continue to adhere to the safety protocols despite having the vaccine.

    Source: Atinka Online

  • Ghana working to manufacture vaccines Akufo-Addo reveals

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has hinted that a committee has been established to produce a plan on how Ghana can develop and manufacture its own vaccines.

    Addressing the nation on Sunday, February 28, for the 24th time since the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus in March 2020, the President revealed that steps are being taken to ensure that coronavirus vaccines are produced locally as part of the fight against the virus in Ghana.

    He said he is committed to combating the Coronavirus pandemic from the country therefore Ghana must produce its own local products.

    Akufo-Addo indicated a committee to that effect which is chaired by a former Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Professor Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, has been formed.

    “I want to reiterate my determination that we should manufacture our own vaccines here in Ghana. To that end, a Committee has been established under the Chairmanship of a former Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, the world-renowned scientist, Professor Kwabena Frimpong Boateng which is formulating a concrete plan of action towards vaccine development and manufacturing,” the President said.

    He further said that the Vaccines Deployment Plan Ghana submitted to the World Health Organization (WHO) for approval was well received.

    His comment follows the arrival of the vaccines into the country.

    “We are the first country in the world to be recipients of vaccines from the COVAX facility. I want to express my appreciation to members of the COVID-19 taskforce which I chair and to officials of the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service for this commendable feat.

    “The vaccine deployment plan we submitted to the WHO was well received. We are grateful also, naturally to the managers of the COVAX facility.”

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • COVID-19 Vaccine rollout: Who gets vaccinated and when

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has named four identifiable groups which will be receiving the first batch of the AstraZeneca vaccines, which will be rolled out by the National Vaccine Deployment Plan from March 2.

    “Our population has been segmented into four groups, and this will determine which section of the population gets vaccinated at a particular time,” President Akufo-Addo declared during his 24th Coronavirus address.

    He stated that the vaccination campaign is to be conducted in 43 districts, which are the epicentres of the pandemic in the country.

    There are 25 in Greater Accra, 16 in Ashanti, and two in the Central Region. Public health officials are expected to give fuller details of the programme.

    “Whilst we are, initially, concentrating on the 43 epicentre-districts, preparations are being made for the vaccination of twenty million Ghanaians through the deployment of some 12,471 vaccinators, 37,413 volunteers, and 2,079 supervisors for the entire vaccination campaign”, Akufo-Addo added.

    Below is the list of priority persons

    Group 1

    · Persons most at risk and frontline State officials

    · Healthcare workers

    · Frontline security personnel

    · Persons with underlying medical conditions

    · Persons 60 years and above

    · Frontline members of the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary

    Group 2

    · Other essential service providers and the rest of the security agencies

    · Water and electricity supply services

    · Teachers and students

    · Supply and distribution of fuels

    · Farmers and food value chain

    · Telecommunications services

    · Air traffic and civil aviation control services

    · Meteorological services

    · Air transport services

    · Waste management services

    · Media

    · Public and private commercial transport services

    · Police Service

    · Armed Forces

    · Prisons Service

    · Immigration Service

    · National Fire Service

    · CEPS Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority

    · Other members of the Executive, Judiciary, and Legislature

    Group 3

    This group consists of the rest of the public, that is, all persons over 18 years, except for pregnant women.

    Group 4

    This final group will include pregnant mothers and persons under the age of 18, and they will be vaccinated when an appropriate vaccine, hopefully, is found, or when enough safety data on the present vaccines are available according to the president.

    Akufo-Addo said, “special arrangements will be made for persons with disabilities who fall within these groups.”

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com