The Ministry of Health (Ministry of Health) has taken an additional 500,000 doses of the Measles-Rubella vaccine, one of three routine vaccines for young children that are in short supply.
The MoH said that by the end of the month, it will receive various quantities of Oral Poliomyelitis Vaccine (OPV) and Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) for tuberculosis (TB).
Briefing journalists in the national cold room in Accra last Tuesday, the Minister of the sector, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, said the government is still beefing up its stocks.
“We expect that by the end of the month, we will get various amounts of all three vaccines that are in short supply. The problem is over,” he said.
He explained that there is nothing wrong with seeking vaccines from neighboring countries that have excess stocks and can be replaced later.
“Bringing vaccines from Nigeria or neighboring countries is an industrial practice, where countries that run out of vaccines, with the help of the World Health Organization (WHO), contact neighboring countries to ask for excess stocks for help and then replace them,” he explained.
He said the country is currently free of measles-rubella outbreaks because of the recent outbreak.
The background
The Daily Graphic, after a national check, reported on the shortage of the three vaccines in its edition of the newspaper on Thursday, February 23, 2023.
Daily Graphic reporters across the country visited major health facilities to ascertain the authenticity of the situation, which was confirmed by caregivers, directors and mothers.
The three vaccines are part of 10 that provide protection against 13 conditions.
Following the report, Mr. Agyeman-Manu and the Director General of GHS, Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, in different platforms, acknowledged the shortage and assured the public that the government is working hard to speed up the restocking of the vaccine.
The minister told Parliament last week that the government has paid an additional $6.4 million to UNICEF to facilitate the procurement and delivery of the vaccine.
Source: graphic.com.gh
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