Ongoing Polio Vaccination in Western Theme

Health news for Saturday, September 12, 2020

Source: GNA

2020-09-12

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Children under five years of age from all communities in the municipality of Tema Oeste are being vaccinated against the polio virus.

The immunization exercise, carried out by the Ghana Health Service in eight regions and 179 districts across the country, is expected to increase the immunity of children from zero to 59 months of age and provide greater protection against the virus.

In total, some 28,277 children under the age of five in all communities in the municipality are being targeted for immunization, which is expected to end on Sunday.

Unlike previous immunization exercises, where schools were primarily the target, this particular exercise is taking place door-to-door as schools are closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr. Isaac Abrefa Busia, Tema West Municipal Public Health Officer, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that vaccines were safe and effective for children, and asked caregivers to make sure that children children under five years of age were immunized.

He said that with 103.8 percent coverage in the last immunization exercise, he expected the current exercise to witness high coverage despite the COVID-19 pandemic, and he fears that caregivers would likely refuse vaccination out of fear of get the virus.

He said parents and caregivers were being sensitized as part of the campaign to ensure maximum coverage.

He explained that “the more vaccinations your child receives, the more protected he will be against vaccine-preventable diseases, such as paralysis and sometimes death.”

Mr. Abrefa Busia therefore pleaded with caregivers to allow health personnel to administer vaccines regardless of the number of times the child has been vaccinated.