Ghana's Chief of Staff, Frema Osei-Opare is urging citizens who form part of the first batch to be vaccinated to avail themselves and partake in the ongoing immunization exercise.

"We must take our lives seriously. I know people who have died. People I am close to. I know the pain that it has inflicted on family and friends.

"If they had this opportunity, they would be alive for all of us to be together.
So for me, it is not a negotiable thing," she stated.

The Chief of Staff, Tuesday received her jab of the AstraZeneca vaccines procured by the country in its fight against the pandemic.

Speaking to Joynews, Frema Osei-Opare gave an account of the processes she was taken through to get vaccinated.

She said: "The lady (health personnel) explains to you what she is going to do and what it is all about. And then within the twinkle of an eye, it is done.

"I will say it is one of the best shots I've had. I'm someone who is frightened of needles, but this one, I hardly realised a needle had pricked me."

Mrs Frema Opare further lauded the government, the Ghana Health Service and the National Covid-19 taskforce for the good work done in ensuring the safety of all Ghanaians.

"It is important we encourage all and sundry who have been given the opportunity to be in the first batch to avail themselves to it and hopefully when they get the next batch, the group will also be attended to.

"I want the people to appreciate that we have a responsible government that is doing the best for our interest and let us rally behind this exercise to make it work for us," she concluded.

Meanwhile, former President John Dramani Mahama together with his wife today received their dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

The former statesman also joined the call for all to avail themselves and partake in the ongoing immunization exercise.

“I believe that all Ghanaians should avail themselves for the vaccines and indeed in Africa, we should be less hesitant about taking vaccines because all of us took vaccines when we were growing up, and it is due to these vaccines that today our children do not get all kinds of diseases like polio and smallpox among others," he said.

He also urged Ghanaians to discard rumours that the procured vaccines are unsafe for use.