After months of shortage of child immunisation vaccines, the Health Ministry and the Ghana Health Service (GHS) have received the first consignment of vaccines.

In a press statement on social media, the Information Ministry noted that the vaccines that have arrived include measles vaccines, BCG vaccines and Oral Polio Vaccines.

The Information Ministry shared pictures of the GHS receiving the vaccines at the airport noting that they have already begun distributing them to various regions and facilities.

“More vaccines expected in Ghana in the coming weeks from multiple sources,” the Information Ministry added.

Background

Ghana ran out of essential BCG and OPV vaccines as a result of the Ministry of Health’s failure to secure procurement of these vaccines since the year began.

The BCG vaccine is primarily needed to prevent the occurrence of tuberculosis in babies, while the OPV is to prevent polio infections.

Other essential vaccines to prevent diseases such as measles, whooping cough, etc. are also in short supply.

Amid the shortage, the Paediatrics Society of Ghana announced that over 100 children in the northern part of Ghana are suspected to have contracted measles.

Answering to parliament on the shortages, on Friday, Health Minister Kwaku Agyeman Manu said that more than $6 million has been paid to United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to deliver baby vaccines.

According to Kwaku Agyeman Manu, the government expects the shortage to end in the next three weeks when the vaccines are delivered.

Minister whilst urging the Legislators to approve funds needed for vaccines, assured that shortages will not recur.

“The assurance I will give and I can give for the first time in the Chamber is that this will not happen again and I will advise that you help me in my advocacy to get adequate funding for vaccines even the health insurance budget,” he appealed.