The Presidential Advisor on health and a medical practitioner, Dr. Nsiah Asare, has intimated that, government is targeting to give vaccines to over 20 million people in the country who need it.
Speaking during an interview, he stated that, government is also requesting for more vaccines from other manufacturers, since the nation is not looking at using just one type of vaccine.
“We are not going to use only one. Anywhere we will get vaccines to buy, we will buy because our target is to vaccinate over 20million of the population as the President said. The President’s vision is to give vaccination to almost every Ghanaian who needs it.”
Dr Nsiah Asare
He further said that, the nation was ready to purchase various vaccine based on its efficacy and safety averring that, the nation needs about 42 million doses of vaccine since double doses will have to be administered.
“If we are going to give the two doses, at least we need to buy 40 million of the vaccine then maybe we have to add about 5% wastage to it. So, we need over 42 million doses of vaccine. We cannot get it from only one source. So, we are ready, any vaccine which is efficacious, which is safe and also deplorable, we will use.
As of now, “I think we have received the third dosage for Synopharm and we are also going to actively ask for all the other manufacturers to send their doses to the Food and Drugs Authority to give it emergency use authorization. We are in the process and it is also something which is going on.”
Dr Nsiah Asare
Dr. Nsiah Asare indicated that, at the moment, the nation has secured the AstraZeneca and also the Sputnik vaccine adding that, before the end of the week, the nation will get it from the other sources.
“We know that we are also on COVAX and I know that, COVAX has given the authorization or the approval to Pfizer, Moderna, I think Johnson and Johnson and other vaccines. So, we are going to ask for them.”
Dr Nsiah Asare
Ghana will today February 24, 2021 receive its first batch of the COVID-19 vaccine. According to the Ministry of Information, the expected vaccine will arrive at the Kotoka International Airport at 7:00 am.
This was announced by the Ministry of Information in a press statement issued on Tuesday, February 23, 2021.
“The Government of Ghana will on Wednesday, February 24, 2021, receive the first batch of the Coronavirus vaccine at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra.”
The statement also added that, the vaccines will be received by a delegation led by the Minister of Health-designate, Mr. Kwaku Agyeman-Manu.
“The Minister for Health-designate, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu (MP) will lead a government delegation to receive the vaccine at 7:00 am.”
The statement further added that a brief ceremony will be televised on Ghana Television (GTV) and also on the Ministry of Information’s Facebook page. Ghana has approved the AstraZeneca and Sputnik V vaccines for use in Ghana.
