The government is expected to take delivery of about nine million more COVID-19 vaccines by the end of December, the presidential advisor on health Dr Anthony Nsiah Asare has said.
The vaccine is expected to boost the government’s mass vaccination drive which is currently targeting specialised groups across the country.
Speaking with Kwaku Nhyira-Addo on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Monday (13 December ), Dr Asare suggested taking the vaccine should be made mandatory.
“As we speak from 24 February up till now we have brought in about 15 million doses of vaccine into the country.”
“We are expecting extra eight to nine million doses of vaccine in the country before the end of the year, we want the people to come out and to be vaccinated.”
“As Ghana Health Service (GHS) has now moved into the campaign mood, we have taken the vaccines to every corner of the country, to the church, Mosque, workplaces, all health facilities .. so there is no reason why anybody will say that, I don’t want to be vaccinated, ” he said.
The presidential advisor on health further called on the public to patronise the ongoing mass vaccination drive to help achieve herd immunity.
GHS reviews COVID-19 protocols for international travellers
Meanwhile, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has reviewed COVID-19 protocols for international travellers arriving at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) as a result of a surge in cases.
In order to control the spread of the disease, the GHS in a statement on Thursday (9 December) said: “All persons 18 years and above arriving in Ghana will be required to provide evidence of full vaccination for a COVID-19 vaccine.”
It also added: “All unvaccinated Ghanaians and residents of Ghana who are currently outside the country and intend to return within 14 days from the midnight of 12 December 2021, are exempted.
However, they would be vaccinated on arrival at the airport.
“All Ghanaians travelling out of the country are to be fully vaccinated effective midnight 12 December 2021.”
The health service said an average of 20 positive cases are recorded at the airport daily.
“In November 2020, 168 cases were detected compared to 241 cases in November 2021, an increase of over 40%. We have since been recording an average of 20 positive cases a day at KIA,” the statement signed by the director-general, Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, said.
Below is the full statement:
Fred Dzakpata
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