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The Ashanti Region is yet to reach herd immunity against COVID, as health officials reveal only 42% of its population has been fully vaccinated.
Regional Director of Health Dr. Emmanuel Tenkorang who attributes the low patronage to vaccine hesitancy, also admits that all strategies to get people vaccinated are yielding little results, especially in the rural areas.
“The resources for the vaccination are there. We have the staff but our coverage is still very low…We have fully vaccinated 42.2% and this is 1, 447,147. But if you look at those who have had at least one dose, it is about 62.7% and that is 2,149,840. So those who have had their first vaccination receive their second jabs that means we would be heading close to 100%, and that is the challenge now”, said Dr. Tenkorang during a visit to the Regional Directorate by Members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health on Friday (July 22).
Some 79.1% in the Kumasi Metropolis have been fully vaccinated while the Kwabre East Municipality has recorded low patronage with 18.1%, Dr. Tenkorang added.
The Ashanti Region has reported 46 active cases of COVID-19 as of July 9, 2022, according to the Ghana Health Service (GHS).
Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health Dr. Nana Ayew Afriyie said the committee has already embarked on a nationwide campaign following misconceptions and conspiracy theories surrounding the COVID-19 vaccination.
“As representatives of the people there was the need to partner with the Ghana Health Service to get our people to vaccinate to protect themselves against the virus”, he said.
Dr. Afriyie, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Effiduase-Asokore said Ghana can vaccinate about 22 million of its citizens but as of now, about 18 million people have gone for the COVID-19 vaccines.
He said it was based on these available statistics, coupled with the lack of seriousness and the importance attached to the vaccination exercise that the committee has decided to move from region to region to educate the citizenry about the need to get vaccinated.
He further appealed to prominent voices and the media to support the campaign by using their platforms to educate the citizenry on the need to go for the vaccines and also help clear the misconceptions surrounding the vaccines.
“The COVID wave keeps blowing and it is believed that the virus will not attack people living in the urban areas but the vulnerable in the rural areas…With this sound understanding, we need the entire partnership of the political actors of the region and so we are here to add our voice to this campaign. The media must also help us to re-echo to the people”, Ayew said.
SOURCE: DAILY MAIL GH
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