The Regional Director of Health Service for the Volta Region, Dr Chrysantus Kubio, has called for urgent action to address gaps in routine immunisation and COVID-19 vaccination uptake in the region.

This call was made during the Stakeholders’ Engagement and Second Quarter Risk Communication Sub-Committee Meeting, aimed at bolstering demand generation for vaccines.

Significant Progress Amidst Challenges

In his address, delivered on behalf of the Director by  Deputy regional health director, Public Health, Dr. Senanu Dzokoto acknowledged the progress made by the Volta Region in achieving the objectives of the Health Sector Medium Term Development Plan for 2024.

The plan focuses on providing universal access to quality health services, reducing avoidable deaths and disabilities among mothers, adolescents, and children, and improving access to responsive clinical and public health emergency services.

Dr Dzokoto expressed gratitude to the health workers, partners, and stakeholders whose efforts have contributed to these achievements.

However, Dr Senanu  Dzokoto emphasized that despite the progress, there remain significant gaps in vaccine coverage, particularly in routine immunizations and COVID-19 vaccinations.

Data presented at the meeting revealed a worrying trend of children left unimmunized in the first half of 2024. Specifically, 7,865 children missed out on the third dose of the pentavalent vaccine, while 9,459 children missed the second dose of the Measles/Rubella vaccine.

Rising Cases of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases

The region has seen a rise in vaccine-preventable diseases, with eight confirmed cases of measles reported this year, a number still below the epidemic threshold but concerning nonetheless. Additionally, Rubella cases are on the rise, and there have been reports of measles outbreaks in some districts of the Volta Region.

Dr Senanu Dzokoto stressed that the inability to vaccinate all eligible children against these preventable diseases poses a significant public health risk.

To address this, national mass vaccination campaigns are scheduled to take place across all districts in Ghana, including the Volta Region, from October 2nd to October 6th, 2024. The campaigns aim to halt the spread of these diseases and boost the overall vaccination rate in the region.

Calls for Sustained Efforts and Collaboration

Dr Dzokoto underscored the importance of demand-generation initiatives to improve vaccine uptake.

He noted that such efforts should include educating the public on the benefits of vaccination, dispelling myths, addressing concerns, and encouraging individuals to get vaccinated.

He highlighted that vaccination is a cost-effective public health intervention essential for reducing childhood mortality and morbidity.

Reflecting on the success of past campaigns, Dr. Dzokoto shared that during the African Vaccination Week and Child Health Promotion Week, the region successfully vaccinated 2,556 children across all antigens and provided Vitamin A supplements to 3,703 children.

He praised the support received from stakeholders and urged them to intensify their efforts, advocating for innovative measures to prevent future outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases.

COVID-19 Vaccination: A Continuing Priority

Despite the global declaration by the World Health Organization (WHO) that COVID-19 is no longer a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, Dr Senanu Dzokoto  reiterated that the virus still poses a significant health threat.

He highlighted the Volta Region’s COVID-19 vaccination rates as a critical area needing improvement. As of July 2024, only 48.3% of the target population in the region has been fully vaccinated, making it one of the lowest rates in the country and falling short of the 70% target necessary to protect against outbreaks.

To address this, the Ghana Health Service plans to integrate COVID-19 vaccination into the routine immunization program, extending eligibility to everyone aged 15 years and above.

He urged stakeholders to support this integration and to use their influence to advocate for both COVID-19 and routine childhood vaccinations.

Dr. Dzokoto concluded his remarks by expressing appreciation to all stakeholders for their continued support and commitment to enhancing health outcomes in the Volta Region.

He called on them to collaborate with the Ghana Health Service to drive demand for vaccines and ensure the success of upcoming vaccination campaigns. "Your support is invaluable," he said, "and together, we can protect our communities from preventable diseases.