US High Commissioner, Stephenie Sullivan, has appealed to Ghanaians to get inoculated against the novel coronavirus.

She made the appeal when she was handing over about 1.7million doses of the Pfizer vaccines to the Ministry of Health

The donation brings to a total, about 4.2million vaccines from the US government.

Stephenie Sullivan, speaking at the event on Monday, said that the US government was committed to supporting Ghana in the fight against the disease.

“I am so pleased to be here. To receive the latest shipment of the US donated Covid-19 vaccines. Ghana is receiving over 1.7 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine. The US has now donated more than 4.2 million Covid-19 vaccine doses through COVAX to help save Ghanaian lives and beat this pandemic,” she said.

She further pleaded with Ghanaians to take advantage of the stock of vaccines and get immunized.

“The same safe and effective vaccines are given to Americans. Now it’s up to Ghanaians to get their jabs. I beg.”

Ghana had targeted to vaccinate 20million Ghanaians by the end of the year. However, as of November 18, 2021, just 3,493,688 vaccines had been administered despite assurances of the safety of the jabs.

The Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye has said that the Service will consider suggestions to make Covid-19 vaccination compulsory since more Ghanaians are yet to be inoculated.

According to him, some organizations in the country have already made vaccination compulsory for their staff.

The number of people to be vaccinated against the disease is expected to increase as the Food and Drugs Authority has given approval for the administration of the Pfizer vaccine for children between 15 and 17.

Prior to this, Ghana’s vaccination plan only captured people above age 18.

Vaccines that are currently being administered in the country include the Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Sputnik, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson.