[ad_1]
The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has urged Ghanaians not to purchase Covid-19 vaccine advertised by unauthorized online platforms.
In a press release, the FDA said only two Covid-19 vaccines have been approved for use in Ghana; the SPUTNIK V and COVISHIELD vaccines.
These, the Authority added, are purchased, imported and deployed by the Ghana Health Service and the Ministry of Health.
“The FDA would like to warn the general public that online advertising, offering for sale and supply of drugs with Covid-19 vaccines are strictly prohibited. Therefore, the public should not buy Covid-19 vaccines online. “
The Authority said the alert comes after it was reported that South African authorities seized fake Covid-19 vaccines imported into the country.
In the statement, the FDA cautioned courier services, including shippers and freight forwarders, against introducing any of these bogus vaccines into Ghana because it is illegal under section 118 of the public health and the FDA guidelines for the emergency use of medical products.
The FDA has urged the public to report any suspicious activity related to the advertising and offering for sale and supply of Covid-19 vaccines.
“The Authority wishes to assure the general public with the collaboration of security and related agencies, it will continue to monitor and remains determined to protect public health as prescribed by the Public Health Law, 2012, Law 851.”
The government of Ghana received its first batch of Oxford AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, as part of the Global Access (COVAX Facility), on Wednesday February 24, 2021.
So far, the Ghana Health Service has vaccinated 300,000 people since the start of the Covid-19 mass vaccination program on March 2, 2021.
GHS Director General Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye during the Covid-19 update said the country will receive two million additional AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines from the COVAX facility by the end of the month of May of this year.
Source link