People aged 15 and above are now eligible for the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine following the revision of the vaccination protocol by the Ghana Health Service (GHS).
Previously, the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) gave vaccination approval for people aged 18 and above but the new protocol starts from age 15.
According to the GHS, the new protocol would help the country better respond to the pandemic since children in schools are more prone to getting infected with Covid-19.
Director-General of the GHS, Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye said, “Pfizer has been registered fully for 12 years and above by the US FDA. Ghana originally registered Pfizer for 18 years and above. Through FDA, we have been able to have a reduction to 15 years.”
He said the country would be on track to attain herd immunity if the population within that bracket is vaccinated against Covid-19.
“This is very important news for us because the most active group in our society are the young ones at that age, and with Christmas and all the activities coming they will be more active, so vaccinating those in that group will reduce school outbreaks and help us reduce transmission to adults,” Dr. Kuma-Aboagye added.
Lassa Fever
The GHS Director-General further urged the public and health officers to stay alert about the Yellow fever outbreak in some parts of the country.
Dr. Kuma-Aboagye said the disease which was first confirmed in the Savannah region has spread to other parts of the country indicating the likelihood that more areas would be affected.
“It is no more just in Savannah Region because it seems to have reached Oti. There is a case in Bole, there is a case at the Tamale Teaching Hospital and Upper West has cases. There is even a case in Wenchi and so everyone has to be on alert.
Don’t wait until you see a case there. Start doing your surveillance, especially those closer to some of these regions,” he advised.
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri