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A manual with additional information on the Covid19 vaccination in Ghana is being developed by the Ministry of Information to step up public education in the coming days, the former deputy health minister suggested, Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye.
Among other things, the guidance document is expected to provide a step-by-step update on the country’s efforts to immunize its citizens against the virus after Ghana received 600,000 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India and distributed by COVAX, a global vaccine sharing initiative.
To dispel skepticism about vaccines, the government said sustained public awareness campaigns will be carried out by the local government department, the Ministry of Health, the Ghana Health Department, the National Commission for Civic Education. and the information services department to inform the public about the upcoming immunization exercise.
In the Saturday edition of The big problemDr Okoe Boye admitted that health officials had done little to raise awareness of the exercise, but said the entry into force of the manual will go a long way in closing the gaps that have been created. in public health education. drive.
“I agree we haven’t talked much about the vaccine, but it’s not too late. The Ministry of Information is developing a manual that will be comprehensive for all stakeholders so that we are always on the same page in terms of content. I think it is very advanced and I will not be surprised that the designated minister will launch it soon. So we are doing our best, ”he said.
Further explaining the apparent delay in educating the public about vaccines, Dr Okoe Boye, who is also a member of the government COVID-19 working group, added that Ghana has a record with its Expanded Program on Immunization. (EPI) which puts the country one step ahead to carry out the vaccination project with a minimum of problems.
We could not have started immunization education when the focus was on treatment or when the vaccine was in development. We must have received good strategic signals to show that we are about to receive the vaccines before we deploy them. You can’t educate on a vaccine that hasn’t been developed and approved for use, but I agree we can make more noise so the public will know it now.
The regulatory body, the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has approved the AstraZeneca and Sputnik V vaccines for use in Ghana.
Vaccines that arrived last week will be rolled out to designated health facilities from March 2, 2021 and are expected to be administered first to frontline health workers, as well as people and people at high risk over the age of 60. years, to slow the progression of the disease. .
Besides the planned awareness campaign in markets, truck parks, churches, mosques and other public places to further clarify the immunization exercise, some government officials will also take the vaccine publicly to build confidence in the vaccine rollout. .
Dr Okoe Boye thinks this is a way to send strong signals to the ordinary Ghanaian that the vaccine is safe and effective to use.
“We have done a lot of research on vaccine acceptance and resistance. There are a lot of trust issues. Many people think that this vaccine was developed by the white man who wants to exterminate us. So as part of the deployment, we need to have key players and influential decision makers to get vaccinated so that it sends a signal. When we see the president urging all of us to take the vaccine is seen on live television receiving his shot, that will not derail our efforts, ”he noted.
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