Ghana becomes the first African country to receive 600,000 Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID19 vaccines
Ghana becomes the first African country to receive 600,000 Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID19 vaccines
2 min read

Ghana in desperate need to curb the spread of coronavirus and save lives becomes the first African country to receive #COVID19 vaccines from the COVAX facility. 

According to the World Health Organization, African Region, 600,000 Oxford-AstraZeneca doses arrived in Accra this morning at the Kotoka International Airport. 

The delivery of the 600,000 Oxford-AstraZeneca doses is the first consignment and represent the beginning of the largest vaccine procurement & supply operation in history.

The vaccine is made by the Serum Institute of India (Coveshield) and is the first consignment of vaccines acquired through the covid10 vaccine global access facility (COVAX) which Ghana among 92 countries has signed unto.

Health workers, adults 60 years and over, people with underlying health conditions, frontline executives, legislature, judiciary and their related staff, frontline security personnel, some religious leaders, essential workers, teachers and other personalities. Focus areas will be greater Accra, Kumasi, and the Central region.

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The government on February 19th 2021 at the Alisa Hotel had a forum on Covid19 Vaccination Roll out Plan which updated the nation on measures intended by the government to deploy the Covid19 vaccine. 

The government reassured the public of the various factors, including a distribution plan based on segmentation, an initial target of 20million persons to be vaccinated, and safety measures amongst others.

The Australian Ambassador to Ghana, Gregory Andrews stated that Australia has invested $80m in the vaccination program. He also asserted that vaccines are being taken to Côte d’Ivoire as well. 

The Italian Ambassador was present with the Minister for Health Designate, #TeamEurope and partners to receive the vaccines. 

However, Ghanaians have different views on the vaccine. Some regarded it as good news while others manifest fear and scepticism about its safety.

However, numerous people are calling on the government to embark on a sensitization program about the “safety, myths and conspiracy theories” some people have about the #COVAX program to prevent massive vaccine dropouts. 

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Ghana has recorded a total of 80,759 cases of covid19, 73,365 recoveries and 582 deaths. 

By:

Renate Dzodzomenyo

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