Ghana: 350,000 COVID-19 second doses now in Accra
After weeks of apprehension over the fate of Ghana's COVID-19 vaccination programme, the exercise looks set to resume soon after 350,000 doses of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccines landed in Accra on Friday morning.
It arrived around 5am, May 7, aboard a Turkish Airline fight to kick-start the second phase of the nationwide vaccination.
Fears that the programme could be held back heightened when the second batch of doses from the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access Facility (COVAX) facility, expected from India, were not forthcoming.
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This sent tongues wagging and kept citizens who received the first jab more than two months ago in a quandary.
The 350,000 doses of vaccines are an addition to the 600,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine received on February 24, this year.
Already, Ghana has inoculated about 850,000
Some countries under the COVAX facility have not been able to utilise all their allocation and the platform has decided to re-allocate them to countries which have been able to utilise all their first allocation and more vaccines are needed for the second doses and for those who have not even had their first dose
Read also: COVID-19 second doses arrive in Accra Friday
Graphic Online's Kester Aburam Korankye reports from the Kotoka International Airport that after becoming the recipient of the historic first shipment of COVAX vaccines, Ghana on Friday morning received another consignment of the vaccines to help kick start the second phase of the nationwide vaccination.
The 350,000 doses of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccines arrived at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) at 5 A. M aboard a Turkish Airline flight- Airbus A330 Kushimoto.
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The consignment, which was initially allocated to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was shipped into Ghana after the DRC failed to utilise them weeks after it arrived in that country.
It was received at the Kotoka International Airport by the the Chief Director of the Ministry of Health, Mr Kwabena Boadu Oku-Afari on the tarmac of the airport, reports Kester Aburam Korankye.
Mr Oku-Afari told Graphic Online in an interview that the arrival of the vaccines was a "big relief" for Ghana and a timely intervention in the country's fight against COVID- 19.
"Even if you have the money to buy, it is not easy these days to get them so this is very timely and a big relief for the country," he said.
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He said the Ghana Health Service will kick-start the second phase of the vaccination soon.
PRESS RELEASE – 350,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have arrived in Ghana
Accra – 7th May: Today, Ghana welcomed the arrival of 350,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccines through the COVAX Facility (CEPI, GAVI, UNICEF, WHO), with logistical support from UNICEF. These AstraZeneca vaccine doses, which were developed by the Serum Institute of India (SII), form part of the larger 1.7 million consignment of doses allotted earlier to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Over 1.3 million doses have been reallocated to five countries in Africa.
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Ghana was selected as one of the recipients of the doses due to its rapid, efficient and coordinated response to this public health crisis, as well as its absorption capacity. The Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Service have also significantly strengthened cold chain equipment and facilities over the past years, with support from GAVI and UNICEF. This has enabled the successful and safe transfer of the vaccines between the two West African countries. To assess the potency of the vaccine, UNICEF formed part of an independent committee which conducted a complete assessment of the vaccine and formally endorsed that they have been well maintained and are safe and effective for immediate use.
The initial vaccination campaign, which commenced on Monday 1st March following the vaccination of the President of the Republic, His Excellency Nana Akufo-Addo, has enabled health workers, persons with underlying comorbidities, frontline personnel living in Greater Accra, Ashanti and parts of Central regions to receive their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. This has provided a level of protection for members of the population most at risk of contracting the virus.
UNICEF and WHO in Ghana welcome the arrival of these vaccines during these challenging times, when there is limited availability of the COVID-19 doses globally. Thanks to the collaboration between Governments, the support from the COVAX facility (CEPI, GAVI, UNICEF, WHO) and all partners, we are all seeking to ensure that the population is protected.
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Writer's email: enoch.frimpong@graphic.com.gh