The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has assured that the routine child immunisation vaccine would be available in two weeks.

This, the Director-General of GHS, Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye explained is because efforts are underway to restock the vaccines.

“We have acknowledged that there has been a shortage, we were anticipating we will get it much earlier [but] it was delayed …we are working with UNICEF and their other partners to ensure that within the next two weeks, we are able to bring you the vaccines,” he said in an interview on Citi FM.

According to Mr. Aboagye, once the vaccine arrives, those who require it will be immunised.

He also stated that community announcements will be made to ensure that the availability of the vaccines is known.

It would be recalled that Ghana Health Service announced a shortage of the routine childhood immunisation vaccine.

According to them, the shortage is a result of the depreciation of the Ghana Cedi.

“It is three key traditional vaccines that we have run out towards the end of the year. Polio vaccine 0 (OPV), Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG0 and then the Measles-Rubella vaccines were supposed to be procured in the first quarter of the year but due to the currency depreciation, the amount that was available could not pay.”

Under the routine vaccination programme, Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG), a vaccine for tuberculosis (TB) disease; oral polio vaccine 0 (OPV); Measles-Rubella; Meningitis and Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough) are administered.

Vaccines against polio, Hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenza type B (DPT/Hep B/ Hib 1) and six infectious diseases that are particularly dangerous to babies are also among those administered.

Meanwhile, the Paediatric Society of Ghana says it has noted with grave concern, reports of shortages of vaccines across the country.

A statement issued by the Society dated February 22, 2023 said, “This is the tip of the iceberg as our investigations reveal that more than 90 cases have been recorded in one major facility alone. The shortage extends beyond Measles vaccine to other childhood diseases including Rotavirus, Tuberculosis, and Pneumococcal vaccines.