The Ghana Health Services (GHS) has advised parents to allow their children to be vaccinated against childhood killer diseases to save their children from premature deaths.

The Volta Regional Director of Health, Dr Chrisantus Kubio entreated the public to disregard the myths, misconceptions, and disinformation being speculated about vaccines and participate in national immunization campaigns.

He was speaking at a stakeholder's engagement meeting ahead of the African Vaccination Week and Child Health Promotion Week.

“All vaccines given to children are safe, effective, and free, protecting them from killer diseases”, he said.

The Promotion Week is under the theme: "Healthy Childhood: Invest in Your Child for a Healthy Future."

Dr Kubio said activities outlined for the observation week include immunization, growth monitoring, Vitamin A supplementation, health promotion, counselling on infant and young child nutrition, birth registration, school health services, distribution of insecticide-treated nets, water, sanitation and hygiene and identification and referral of at-risk children.

He underscored the significance of the Promotion Week explaining that immunization ensured children were strong and healthy, and helped eradicate smallpox and other child-killer diseases.

“Immunization has reduced the number of measles cases and deaths and the global burden of wild polio disease to the point of eradication. Immunization has eliminated tetanus in neonates and mothers in Ghana”, he added.

He, therefore, entreated stakeholders to serve as ambassadors and educate people in their respective jurisdictions to allow their children to be immunized.

The services of the African Vaccination Week and Child Health Promotion Week will be rendered at child welfare clinics in health centers, hospitals, and CHPS compounds. Services will also be extended to communities, schools, worship centers, markets, and homes.

Dr Kubio also announced the commencement of the 10th National Covid-19 vaccination campaign which starts from Sunday, May 5th, to Thursday, May 9th, 2024.

He lamented that vaccine hesitancy has derailed efforts to achieve COVID-19 Vaccination targets, in the previous campaign leading to the region recording the lowest vaccinated population among its peers.

“In the Volta region, only 503,045 persons, or 45.6% of the region's target population, have fully been vaccinated. This is not only one of the lowest rates in the country but also falls short of the 70% target needed to adequately protect the entire population from COVID-19 outbreaks”, he said.

He asserted that the myths, misconceptions, misinformation, and disinformation about vaccines are all false, considering the success of the vaccination campaign which commenced 3 years ago.

“I am confident all stakeholders will collaborate to ensure the campaign's success. Again, the health service and its partners thank you for your unflinching support. We further request that you use your influence to advocate for the COVID-19 vaccination and all the other helpful interventions to prevent future disease outbreaks”, he added.