Programmes Manager, Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) at the Ghana Health Service, (GHS), Dr. Kwame Amponsa-Achiano says Ghanaians have refused to take the COVID-19 vaccines because there has been no sensitization on the process in recent times.
While he admitted that the Ghana Health Service had not done enough in the sensitization efforts, he further blamed the media for this occurrence.
Speaking to Samuel Eshun on the Happy Morning Show, Dr. Amponsa-Achiano expressed: “The sensitization on the COVID-19 has been low. The media is partly to blame because sometimes the attention shifts from the COVID-19 pandemic. The sensitization work should not be left to only one entity.”
During the conversation, he encouraged the media to increase sensitization on the COVID-19 as “we all have to contribute to the sensitization efforts.”
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has lamented the low turnout of people for the vaccination exercise in the country despite the availability of the COVID-19 vaccines.
Dr. Kwame Amponsa-Achiano revealed that the country has a lot of vaccines in store but the people are not turning out to be vaccinated.
He disclosed that as of October 3, Ghana had received 8million doses of the vaccines in total. However, only 3million doses have so far been administered, which covers 4.3 percent of the GHS’ initial target.
In September, when President Akufo-Addo gave his speech at the 76th session of the UN General Assembly, he expressed hope that Ghana will achieve its target of vaccinating 20 million people by the end of the year despite receiving 5 million doses of vaccines so far.
While he did not state how the 20 million target was going to be achieved with three months to end the year, he told the Assembly that Ghana recognized that vaccination is the way to protect populations and revitalize societies.
