Ghana receives 600,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine

Ghana has taken delivery of 600,000 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

The consignment is part of an initial tranche of 2.4million vaccines manufactured and licensed by the Serum Institute of India (Coviahield).

According to the Health Minister-designate, Kwaku Agyeman Manu, the vaccines were acquired through the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access Facility (COVAX).

Handing over the vaccines to health officials, a joint statement from the WHO and UNICEF read, “this is a momentous occasion, as the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccines into Ghana is critical in bringing the pandemic to an end. The only way out of this crisis is to ensure that vaccinations are available for all. We thank all partners that are supporting the COVAX Facility to deliver safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines to all countries quickly and fairly”.

“After a year of disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with more than 80,700 Ghanaians getting infected with the virus and over 580 lost lives, the path to recovery for the people of Ghana can finally begin”

“The shipments also represent the beginning of what should be the largest vaccine procurement and supply operation in history. The COVAX Facility plans to deliver close to 2 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines this year. This is an unprecedented global effort to make sure all citizens have access to vaccines.

Ghana is the first country to receive the COVID-19 vaccines from the COVAX Facility.

” As part of the UN Country Team in Ghana, UNICEF and WHO reiterate our commitment to support the vaccination campaign and contain the spread of the virus, in close cooperation with all partners,” the statement read.

The vaccines according to health officials will be first administered to the president, and government officials to boost public confidence and then to health workers, essential services providers and the general population.