TLF, UNICEF wrap-up vaccines hesitancy workshop in Sabie

Public Health Officer at Banda District Health Directorate Amos Nantanba has tasked religious and opinion leaders, Chiefs, Assemblymen, youth and women groups to trumpet and lead advocacy on the benefits of getting vaccinated with Covid-19, yellow fever and polio vaccines.

According to the Health Expert Amos Nantanba, COVID-19 is easily transmitted and can lead to serious illness and death, even for people who are young and healthy.

Speaking at a workshop on Covid-19, yellow fever and polio vaccines hesitancy by The Light Foundation and UNICEF at Sabie within the Banda District of the Bono Region on Wednesday 5 April, 2022, Public Health Officer at Banda District Health Directorate Amos Nantanba said “Vaccination with COVID-19 vaccine complements the other known preventive protocols in the reduction of risk of infection. Anyone who gets vaccinated helps to protect him or herself, their families and the entire community.
Vaccines prepare your body’s natural defenses – the immune system – to recognize and fight off the virus that causes COVID-19”.

Scientists are studying whether people who get vaccinated for COVID-19 would also be less likely to pass the COVID-19 virus on to other people. If that’s the case, getting vaccinated could be a powerful way to not only protect yourself, but also your entire community.

“How will we know if COVID-19 vaccines are safe?COVID-19 vaccines go through rigorous, multi-stage testing process, including studies that involve tens of thousands of people. These trials, which include people at high risk for COVID-19, are specifically designed to identify any common side effects or other safety concerns”, Amos Nantanba noted.

At the moment, vaccines available for COVID-19 have efficacy of between 60-94%. The World Health Organization guidance is that COVID-19 vaccines should demonstrate at least 50% efficacy against severe disease. As at 24th February, 2021 Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has given Emergency Use Authorization to two COVID-19 vaccines: (i) Sputnik V vaccine, Russia; and (ii) Covishield from the Serum Institute of India.
The FDA, a WHO Maturity Level 3 regulatory agency, has reviewed both of these vaccines and concluded that they are efficacious, safe and of good quality. Additional approvals made by FDA will be communicated to the public accordingly.

Contributing to the discussion Health Promotion Officer at the Banda District Health Directorate Sonnoba Louis said “a single yellow fever vaccine dose provides 10 years protection and the person may be protected forever. Children under 9 months of age, breastfeeding mothers, people who are allergic to eggs, people with weak immune systems and pregnant woman should not be allowed to take yellow fever vaccine. Vaccination is the main way to prevent polio”.

For his part, Rev. Eric Owusu Ansah of Presbyterian Church of Ghana has appealed to take the yellow fever, Covid-19 and polio vaccination seriously to improve their health and health outcomes. According to him, God blessed a selected group of people to provide remedy to problems facing humanity.

Speaking at the workshop, Chief Imam of Sabie Amin Mohammed has promised to use daily sermons and teachings at mosques to educate, inform and influence practitioners of the Islamic faith towards up-take of vaccines.

Assemblyman for Sabie Electoral Area Ralph Mubarak says the time has come for community leaders to lead advocacy on the urgent need to get all and sundry vaccinated to improve their immune systems and health status.

Meanwhile, Zongo Chief of Sabie Asmah Mamudu has thank UNICEF and The Light Foundation whilst urging them to regularly embark on sensitization of rural Ghana on health issues.