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After a month of rolling out the vaccine in Ghana, there has been a lot of progress as well as indications of some measures that need to be put in place in order to improve the country’s chances of vaccinating around 20 million Ghanaians and getting the collective immunity.
So far, according to figures from the Ghana Health Service (GHS) website, some 555,259 people have been vaccinated, with the country’s active Covid-19 count falling below 2,000 (1,775).
Speaking on the AM Show Thursday, Dr Yaw Bediako, an immunologist at the West African Center for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) at the University of Ghana, hinted that Ghana has done well in terms of the number of people vaccinated in this context. brief period.
Referring to the possibility of mixing different Covid-19 vaccines, Dr Bediako also mentioned that, getting an injection of each of the different vaccines from different manufacturers, is a possibility.
There has already been an alleged “ build-up ” of vaccines by India, for example, which has left some countries that are awaiting deliveries of AstraZeneca vaccines under the Covax regime, to suspend their vaccination campaigns – at least for a period of time. time.
But according to Dr Bediako, “There is growing evidence that you may, in fact, improve the effectiveness of vaccines by combining them.”
He went on to explain how, unlike regular drugs which may not be good to mix with other drugs, vaccines are somewhat different.
According to Dr Bediako’s explanation, mixing the Covid-19 vaccines would not be harmful, but the question is whether the potency of the vaccines would remain the same – with regard to one receiving a first injection of the AstraZeneca vaccine and a second, Sputnik. V – compared to one receiving two doses of AstraZeneca vaccine.
He reiterated, however, that for this to be done [the mixing of vaccines], some clinical trials would be necessary.
“Work is currently underway on whether you can mix and match vaccines, because AstraZeneca and Sputnik V vaccines are actually very similar types of vaccines.
“Those, you might think you could probably get a second dose of Sputnik V and still be fine.” But currently, that data is not there, so the current advice is to stick to the same type of vaccine in both of your doses. “
Dr Bediako, while making this known, also pointed out the other side of the issue that could become reality in some countries like Ghana, saying: “It is not inconceivable that it is good to mix [ different Covid-19 vaccines]. There is actually good evidence to suggest that you can actually improve the effectiveness of vaccines by combining them. “
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