Scientist cautions against setting targets and timelines to attaining herd immunity

Director for the West Africa Center for Cell Biology and Pathogens (WACBIP), Prof Gordon Awandare, has cautioned against raising the hopes of Ghanaians to attain herd immunity within a year.

According to him, the country can’t attain herd immunity within a year, considering the growing politics surrounding access to Covid-19 vaccines.

“Let the people know that we are going to be wearing a mask for a long time that we are not getting to herd immunity anytime soon. It’s going to be in 2022 or beyond before we get to herd immunity,” he said.

“We should be careful about giving out any numbers and timeline because we don’t produce the vaccine, so let’s just dial down the promises we would try to get to herd immunity, but the time frame we cannot tell because we can’t tell how soon the vaccine will come,” he added.

His caution comes after President Akufo-Addo yesterday announced the country will from Wednesday begin the second phase of the Covid-19 vaccination exercise. 

The President, in his address, said, “I am happy to announce that beginning May 19 to 26, the deployment of the second dose of vaccine will take place across the designated vaccination centres in the 43 Districts approximately 12 weeks after the first jab as I have prescribed. The Ghana Health Service will communicate more details of the deployment in the coming week.

“Efforts are being made to ensure that those who receive the first jabs after the March 9, What in due course receive their second. We are expecting an additional 300,000,00 doses of Spunik V Vaccines which have already been approved by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) to arrive in the county we are making all effort to achieve our overall vaccination target.”

However, Speaking on Joy News’ The Probe, Mr Awandare stated that realistic targets must be set to manage the people’s expectations as Ghana prepares to begin the second phase of vaccination.

“I always think that July, August when realistically we can start getting a significant quantities of vaccine. The ones that realistically is communicated properly, I think we can manage the people’s expectation well,” he stated.