Civil society group, Send Ghana, has charged government to expedite measures towards procuring the second dose of the Covid-19 vaccines to avoid eroding the gains made against vaccine hesitancy.

In a statement to commemorate the World Immunization Week, Executive Director of Send-Ghana, George Osei-Bimpeh said government must create a fiscal space to enable it increase budgetary allocation to the health sector.

This, he believed, will better prepare the country to address its health needs without overly depending on foreign assistance.

“Expedite procurement of the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and increase public awareness to ensure that the progress made in addressing vaccine hesitancy within the period is not eroded.

“Additionally, people living within the meningitis belt must be vaccinated against CSM, and children from the age of 0-2years received all 13 vaccines to protect them against preventable diseases,” he stated.

Mr Osei-Bimpeh also urged authorities to invest in the research and development, capacity of local pharmaceutical companies to respond to Ghana's immunization needs and future pandemics through local vaccine manufacturing and development programmes.