A Research Fellow at the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens has reiterated the important role vaccination will play in eradicating Covid-19 pandemic in the country.

Dr Yaw Bediako in an interview on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show Monday noted that if Ghanaians want to minimize the impact of Covid-19 and return to normalcy then all eligible persons must take the vaccine.

According to him, the citizenry do not have a choice but to take the Covid-19 vaccine which will be made available for the public from Tuesday, March 2, 2021.

“Up until now, we decided we didn’t have a choice. I don’t know why now we think we have a choice. From my perspective, we don’t have a choice.

“I mean if we are serious about getting rid of eliminating this disease which has claimed over 600 lives in Ghana and 2million worldwide, the vaccine is a very important step. You cannot get rid of it [Covid-19] in Ghana without vaccinating,” he told Joy FM’s Winston Amoah.

Allaying fears relating to the new-developed vaccines government has procured, Dr Bediako joined President Akufo-Addo and other health experts to say the vaccine is safe for use.

He cited research indicating that people rarely react to vaccines.

“The number of people who have had a negative response to vaccines is so small. And even if you look at the data that is out there, the number of people who had a reaction to a vaccine is tiny.

“And sometimes it is not really a response to the vaccine. I have heard stories of people who have had injections and have had some effects. It is usually an injury as a result of the injection not so much about the vaccine,” he stressed.

Already, President Akufo-Addo and his wife, Rebecca Akufo-Addo have set the example by taking the first shot of the Covid-19 vaccine in the country.

Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia and his wife, Samira Bawumia followed suit and encouraged others to do same.

Meanwhile, the first phase of Covid-19 dissemination will begin Tuesday, March 2, 2021.