Audio By Carbonatix
After a month of the vaccine rollout in Ghana, there have been a lot of gains as well as indications of some measures that need to be put in place in order to enhance the country's chance of vaccinating about 20 million Ghanaians and achieving herd immunity.
So far, according to figures from the Ghana Health Service (GHS) website, some 555,259 people have been vaccinated, with the country's active Covid-19 count falling below 2,000 (1,775).
Speaking on the AM Show Thursday, Dr. Yaw Bediako, an immunologist with the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) of the University of Ghana, intimated that Ghana has done well in terms of the number of people vaccinated within this brief period.
Touching on the possibility of different Covid-19 vaccines being mixed, Dr. Bediako also mentioned that, getting one shot each of different vaccines from different manufacturers, is a possibility.
Already, there has been some purported 'hoarding' of vaccines by India, for example, that has left some countries that are waiting for deliveries of AstraZeneca vaccines under the Covax regime, to put their vaccination drives on hold - at least for a while.
But according to Dr. Bediako, "There is growing evidence that you could, actually, improve the efficacy of the vaccines by combining them."
He went on to elaborate on how, unlike regular medication which may not be good to mix with other medicine, vaccines are somewhat different.
Per Dr. Bediako's explanation, mixing Covid-19 vaccines wouldn't be harmful, but the question is whether the vaccines' potency would remain the same - in terms of one receiving a first jab of the AstraZeneca vaccine and a second that is, Sputnik V - compared to one receiving two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
He reiterated, however, that for this to be done [the mixing of vaccines], some clinical trials would be required.
"There is work currently going on to find out whether you can mix and match because AstraZeneca and Sputnik V vaccines are actually very similar types of vaccines.
"Those ones, you could conceivably think that you could probably get a second dose of Sputnik V and still be fine. But currently, that data is not there, so the current guidance is to stick with the same type of vaccine in your two doses."
Dr. Bediako, while making this known, also highlighted the other side of the matter which could become the reality of some countries like Ghana, saying, "It is not inconceivable that it will be fine to mix [ different Covid-19 vaccines]. There is actually good evidence suggesting that you may actually improve the efficacy of the vaccines by combining them."
Latest Stories
-
England are tough, but we can play against Ghana, Panama – Croatia coach reacts to World Cup draw
3 hours -
We can beat anyone – Otto Addo reacts to World Cup draw
3 hours -
GPL 2025/26: Mensah brace fires All Blacks to victory over Eleven Wonders
5 hours -
This Saturday on Newsfile: Petitions against the OSP, EC heads, and 2025 WASSCE results
5 hours -
Ambassador urges U.S. investors to prioritise land verification as Ghana courts more investment
6 hours -
Europe faces an expanding corruption crisis
6 hours -
Ghana’s Dr Bernard Appiah appointed to WHO Technical Advisory Group on alcohol and drug epidemiology
6 hours -
2026 World Cup: Ghana drawn against England, Croatia and Panama in Group L
6 hours -
3 dead, 6 injured in Kpando–Aziave road crash
6 hours -
Lightwave eHealth accuses Health Ministry of ‘fault-finding’ and engaging competitor to audit its work
6 hours -
Ayewa Festival ignites Farmers Day with culture, flavour, and a promise of bigger things ahead
7 hours -
Government to deploy 60,000 surveillance cameras nationwide to tackle cybercrime
7 hours -
Ghana DJ Awards begins 365-day countdown to 2026 event
7 hours -
Making Private University Charters Optional in Ghana: Implications and Opportunities
7 hours -
Mampong tragedy: Students among 30 injured as curve crash kills three
7 hours
