The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has given an assurance that additional COVID-19 vaccines are being procured to ensure that people who have been vaccinated take the second jab as required.
The national COVID-19 vaccination programme started on March 2, 2021, with the pledge that the GHS will administer the second jab between eight and 12 weeks after the first jab.
People are, however, becoming anxious that due to global vaccine equity challenges, the country may not be able to provide the second jab within the stipulated time.
But addressing the Minister’s press briefing series in Accra yesterday, the Director-General of the GHS, Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, said the public should not panic, as efforts were being made to bring in more of the vaccines.
He said research had shown that the first dose provided protection even over the 12-week stipulated period.
“We are assuring people that if you don’t get the second jab in eight weeks, there is nothing wrong. We still have a four-week window. We have some assurances from COVAX that by May, we would get more vaccines.
“We are aware that the Presidency is also working hard to bring in more of the vaccines; we assure you that we will deliver,” the Director-General added.
Dr Kuma-Aboagye further said studies had shown that the efficacy of one dose of AstraZeneca provided 76 percent protection for about 90 days, which coincided with the 12-week period.