The Ghana Health Service's (GHS) Upper East Regional Health Directorate has announced that a school vaccination exercise against COVID-19 will be held before the Christmas break.
It claims to have received 39,300 Pfizer vaccinations and is ready to begin the immunization process.
It has thus requested that the Ghana Education Service (GES) mobilize kids aged 15 and up from all schools to participate in the exercise.
Dr. Emmanuel Kofi Dzotsi, GHS Regional Director, made the announcement at a press conference for chosen media from around the region, with the goal of gaining support for the exercise and increasing COVID-19 vaccine uptake.
We strongly urge GES to mobilize children aged 15 and up in their schools to get Pfizer immunizations before the schools close in December 2021."
He explained that all COVID-19 vaccinations will be administered to anyone aged 18 and above, with the exception of the Pfizer vaccines, which would be administered to people aged 15 and up.
Dr. Dzotsi stated that the Region received about 203,100 doses of COVID-19 vaccinations between March and November 2021, primarily from AstraZenaca, Johnson & Johnson, and Moderna, and that vaccination exercises were ongoing in all 15 Municipalities and Districts.
According to him, the regional goal is to vaccinate 830,693 people, or 4.2 percent of the national objective of 20 million people, with COVID-19 vaccinations.
"As of November 29, 2021, 206,100 people, or 18.9% of the Regional target, had gotten at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, while 157,308 people, or 4.4 percent, had been fully vaccinated," he stated.
"Our efforts at decreasing the spread of COVID-19 are achieving the intended results," the Regional Health Director stated, adding that the GHS has expanded the vaccination exercise to reach the general community to assist build herd immunity and, as a result, lessen the disease's impact.
The regional fight against new infections and the pandemic, according to the Health Director, has progressed with a steady decrease in the number of active cases over the last three months.
He revealed that the Region had a total of 1,492 COVID-19 cases as of November 29, 2021, with three active cases in the Bolgatanga Municipality. "Unfortunately, since the first instance of COVID-19 was found in the Region in April 2020, the Region has lost 54 patients owing to COVID-19," he continued.
Despite the efforts made in restricting the virus's spread, the Director stated that a high vaccination coverage would assist the region maintain the advances made in the fight against it, and that COVID-19 vaccines were safe, effective, and free.
Dr. Josephat Nyuzaghl, the GHS's Deputy Regional Director in charge of Public Health, said the Region had received 39,300 Pfizer vaccinations, which would be distributed to schools as part of the immunization campaign. "Before they go home, we want to vaccinate the kids," he added.
He reminded the public that December has been designated as COVID-19 vaccination month by the GHS and the Ministry of Health (MOH). "As a result, we anticipate that the general public will seek vaccination."
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