The Minority in Parliament, is alleging several causalities have been recorded as a result of the shortage of certain childhood vaccines. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Minority spokesperson on health, claims five children died from measles due to lack of vaccines.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Health Minister, Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, has both publicly denied reports that some children have died due to vaccine shortages.
“The President and the Minister responsible for Health made a statement that we haven’t recorded any fatality. That is false. We have recorded about five fatalities. I don’t want to believe that government wants to deliberately withhold the information from the public.”
Kwabena Mintah Akandoh
Recently, several parts of the country were hit with a shortage of vaccines, despite claims by the National Health Insurance Authority that over GH¢70 million, had been released for the procurement of vaccines. The situation heightened after major health facilities in most regions turned away nursing mothers, due to the erratic supply of vaccines including measles, polio and tetanus.
But over the weekend, the Ghana Health Service (GHS), confirmed taking delivery of a consignment of childhood vaccines. The GHS, alleged the Ministry of Health had made adequate provisions for the supply of vaccines that will last for the rest of the year and beyond. The vaccines, according to GHS include BCG, OPV and Measles, with accompanying devices such as needles, syringes and safety boxes.
Vaccinations for children will begin today, Monday, March 13. 2023. Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, urged all parents to vaccinate their children during a media interview. He entreated caregivers to desist from rushing to hospitals for the vaccines. “The doses that are available are enough for at least six weeks across the country. So, we will start vaccinating all,” he said.
First batch of childhood vaccines woefully inadequate
The Pediatric Society of Ghana, is urging the government to purchase more childhood vaccines because the initial shipment, is woefully inadequate.
According to the Ghana Health Service (GHS), the first consignment of childhood vaccines, which included Oral polio, measles-rubella, and BCG vaccines, arrived over the weekend and will last for six weeks.
Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, Director-General of GHS, says by the time the consignment runs out, more would have arrived. But President of the Pediatric Society of Ghana, Dr. John Adabie Appiah, claims that it will take about six months to vaccinate all children who missed their vaccination.
“We need to vaccinate a larger population and make sure that the population has herd immunity before we can relax and that will take not less than six months to get to that point, so six weeks is woefully inadequate due to the vaccine shortage. There are over 800 cases of measles and this is terrible. The situation is going to get worse, so more needs to be done. So, we hope that more vaccines will come in to cover the rest of the year.”
President of the Pediatric Society of Ghana, Dr. John Adabie Appiah
The Ministry of Information in a Facebook post, said distribution to various regions and facilities is underway. They assured that more vaccines are expected in the country in the coming weeks from multiple sources. The Ghana Health Service, has confirmed taking delivery of a consignment of childhood vaccines entreating caregivers to desist from rushing to hospitals for the vaccines.
The GHS, said the Ministry of Health has made adequate provisions for the supply of vaccines that will last for the rest of the year and beyond.
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