The Presidential Advisor on Health, Dr. Anthony Nsiah-Asare, has said the country is ready to adopt COVID-19 vaccines.
However, only vaccines that have been tested in manufacturing jurisdictions and approved by global and regional vaccine approving bodies, such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the West African Health Organisation (WAHO), and verified locally to be safe for use, would be adopted.
Addressing the Greater Accra Regional Hospital’s virtual commemoration of Emergency Week yesterday, he also debunked rumors that the recent yellow fever mop-up vaccination was a COVID-19 vaccine testing and trial in disguise, an issue which had generated anxieties.
Dr. Nsiah-Asare said the government had no intentions to try any COVID-19 vaccine on Ghanaians.
Preparations
He indicated that in the interest of public health, the government was working around the clock to ensure that the people were not deprived of any globally approved and accepted vaccines.
Dr Nsiah-Asare said as part of the preparations, the government was in constant talks with the WHO and WAHO to ensure that Ghana was not left out.
Furthermore, he said, the National Information Technology Advisory Council, a technical committee responsible for the introduction and use of vaccines in the country, had started working closely with the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) to ensure that proper communication was done as well as ensure that only efficacious and safe vaccines were brought and used in the country.
“We are looking at all vaccines coming into the country, more importantly, the risk communication aspect of vaccine introduction. The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has also charged us to facilitate the local content in bridging the local vaccine needs,” he said.
Dr. Nsiah-Asare also mentioned that WAHO had charged all West African countries to collaborate to ensure that West Africans were not left behind when a COVID-19 vaccine was finally adopted globally.
“What we are looking for is a vaccine that is efficacious, safe, and will be accepted by all. We are already aware of the anti-vaccine campaigners and so we are doing our homework well to address all their concerns,” he stated.
