Kwaku Agyeman-Manu
Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu has stated that the recent shortage in vaccines for measles, as regrettable as it is, is symptomatic of the steady global decline in measles vaccination since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to him, Ghana has had some vaccine shortages since the last quarter of 2022.
Addressing media yesterday, Mr. Agyeman-Manu indicated that the vaccines in short supply are BCG, Measles-Rubella (MR), and Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV), and added that the shortage is nationwide.
He quoted from a WHO recent publication on the subject that puts the challenge facing the country into perspective.
“Ghana’s Ministry of Health has been making efforts to ensure we secure adequate stocks of vaccines despite this global challenge,” the minister said.
He continued, “We have made all necessary efforts to ensure that despite these challenges we secure adequate stocks within the next few weeks.”
No Death
The minister corrected the erroneous impression that there have been deaths from measles in Ghana recently.
“For the avoidance of doubt, there have been no deaths from the recently recorded spike in Measles cases. Indeed there have been no deaths since 2003, though we have recorded cases annually,” he stressed.
Mr. Agyeman-Manu said despite this challenge, Ghana’s immunisation performance coverage remains among the best in the world, pointing out that in 2021, the country recorded 95% coverage.
He disclosed that the ministry was working with UNICEF to fast-track the processes, and added that it is expected that the vaccines would be supplied in the next few weeks, all things being equal.
“The Ministry of Health will ensure that we stay on track with our immunisation record and quickly overcome this bottlenecks,” he concluded.
By Ernest Kofi Adu