The President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo has stated that no child should be denied access to vaccination in the country.
This comes following the shortage of vaccines and its implications on the society.
It has been reported that there is shortage of vaccines for babies in the country and the government has failed to address the challenge as a matter of urgency.
Delivering the State of the Nation’s Address in Parliament on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, President Akufo Addo said, “I must say, however, that the current shortage of some childhood vaccines in the country has concerned me greatly. This shortage, if prolonged, will affect negatively Ghana’s Childhood Immunisation Programme, which has been recognised as one of the most successful in the world. The WHO has only recently expressed worry about a steady decline in measles vaccination coverage globally, because of the concentration on the fight against COVID-19.”
He said the Government had taken steps to ensure that stocks of these vaccines are procured and supplied, as a matter of emergency.
President Akufo Addo said the Ghana Health Service has developed an elaborate programme to catch up on children who have missed their vaccinations immediately stocks arrive.
“I want to encourage all parents and caregivers to ensure that eligible children are vaccinated, once this programme begins. No child should be denied access to vaccination. Mercifully, so far, not a single child has died as a result of the outbreak,” he said.
Meanwhile, he said Parliament has already passed into law the National Vaccine Institute Bill, which is yet to be brought for my assent.
“In the near future, this Institute will ensure that, no matter what happens to the global vaccine supply chain, we can produce our own vaccines locally,” he added.
Ghana| Atinkaonline.com| Porcia Oforiwaa Ofori