The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has reported that 7 more people have died from COVID-19, moving the number of deaths to 698.
The latest update from GHS confirms that 48 other people are in severe condition with 18 more in critical condition. According to GHS, 243 new cases of infections have also been recorded out of which 28 are active. This has pushed the country’s active cases to 3,701 from a previous 3,673.
According to GHS, treatment and isolation centres across the country are managing these cases, while some are under home management. The new infections are from tests conducted as at March 12, 2021. Additionally, a total of 83,829 people have recovered and discharged.
So far, the country has recorded a total of 88,228 cases of the virus since it confirmed its first two cases in March 2020.
GHS Acknowledges COVID-19 Vaccine Effect Report
Also, the Extended Programme on Immunisation (EPI) of GHS intimated it has received about 1,000 reports of effects from persons vaccinated against COVID-19.
Dr Kwame Amponsa-Achino, the Programme Manager of the EPI, in an interview stated that the reactions and complaints received by his outfit and the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) were fever, sweating, headache, weakness, chills and body aches, which were all expected.
He revealed these are people who were vaccinated within 12 days of the first phase of the vaccination exercise.
The Programme Manager said the reports were not different from reactions and adverse reports from other countries. And the effects are also in line with what the manufacturer in the vaccine package information states.
Dr Amponsa-Achiano says the complaints were mainly through the complainant’s call. The number was provided on the vaccination card, the Med App, and a complaints link provided by the FDA.
He said data shows that nearly 404,000 persons have taken their first jab of the COVID-19 vaccine. The numbers come from the 43 districts earmarked for the first phase.
Those vaccinated include front-line health workers, adults aged 60 years and above, and people with underlying health conditions such as diabetes, kidney diseases, hypertension, and cancer.
The others are frontline security personnel, frontline government officials, the media, and all frontline workers in the formal sector.
Progress Report on Vaccination Exercise
A total of 20 million Ghanaians will receive vaccination against the virus, Dr Amponsa-Achiano said. He revealed that females formed about 62 percent of the number vaccinated so far.
Moreover, he said about 58,000 persons with underlying health conditions, 91,000 adults aged 60 years and above, about 68,000 health workers, 23,000 frontline security personnel, and more than 48,000 essential service providers have received their first jabs.
Similarly, more than 12,000 members of the Executive, Judiciary, and Legislature, and 60,000 teachers aged 60 and above, more than 3,000 media persons, and 72,000 ordinary persons have been vaccinated.
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 sanitize hands frequently.
