The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has called on the Ministry of Health to withdraw its compulsory vaccine mandate as it poses threats of job losses to health workers who have not been vaccinated.

Contained in a statement signed by the President of the Association, Dr Frank Serebour, it revealed that the vaccine mandate decision by the government will stress and deplete the health workforce. It explained that instead of the imposition, the ministry of health and its agencies must seek out health workers who have concerns about the vaccines and address them. This, it explained, will “encourage” those who are yet to vaccinate to do so.

As part of its recommendation, it suggested that the Health Ministry should rather demand evidence of a negative Covid-19 test from health workers who are unvaccinated.

“The GHS should withdraw their mandate issued to health workers who have not been vaccinated and the subsequent threat of job loss. While it may be well intended, it has the potential of reducing the already stressed and depleted health workforce”.
GMA

Following this, GMA emphasized the need for strict enforcement of COVID-19 protocols to achieve “herd immunity” through vaccination until a verifiable cure or treatment is found.

To address vaccine hesitancy among Ghanaians, the GMA proposed some measures that can be adopted to encourage vaccination in the country. It intimated that vaccines must be made accessible to all Ghanaians and as close as possible to their doorsteps.

“The Ghana Health Service should partner with Media Houses, National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE), Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Religious Bodies, Traditional Authorities, etc to ramp up public education on the need for COVID-19 vaccinations especially in local languages. The Government, Food and Drugs Authority and Ghana Health Service should note the concerns of vaccine hesitant individuals and groups and fashion out messages that directly addresses these concerns with local data and relevant information”.
GMA

Hesitancy to vaccine in the country

The Association noted that although it fully supports the COVID-19 vaccination rollout, the vaccine mandate should be the last option for the country. According to the GMA, if the vaccine mandate is hastily implemented, it may actually worsen “antivaccine sentiments” and vaccine hesitancy among Ghanaians, especially when the country’s case count declines.

“While the government has the power to institute a vaccine mandate (as enshrined in the Public Health Act), the GMA is however of the considered opinion that vaccine mandates should only be issued as a last resort owing to the ethical, legal and practical challenges it may pose”.
GMA

In December last year, Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Patrick Kuma Aboagye disclosed some categories of persons are to be affected by the government’s mandatory vaccination. According to him, persons who are likely to be affected are “all health workers” who should be vaccinated.

“All security personnel should be vaccinated, all staff and students from tertiary and secondary schools should be vaccinated, all government workers are affected and all commercial drivers are affected and to encourage them that’s why we are providing vaccines”.
Dr Patrick Kuma Aboagye