The Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye has hinted that the second phase of the covid-19 vaccination exercise will start tomorrow, May 19, 2021, in the 43 districts of the country.
According to him, all is set for the exercise adding that deployment of the drugs has also been done.
Addressing Journalists in Accra, he said “[This exercise is limited to] those who had their first vaccine between the 1st and 9th March…We are sending text messages and telling people who qualify [to go for their jabs]… We are currently trying to secure those who have their first dose, but a lot of effort is going on to bring in additional vaccines to start the first dose because the ultimate aim for the 20 million still exists, and that is what we are working on"
Dr. Kuma-Aboagye also explained that to make the second phase programme much effective and smooth, individuals who availed themselves for the first jab can visit health centres and complete the exercise with the second.
“We are advocating that you go to where you received your first dose. Go there with your card. Your card will be reviewed to look at the date you received your vaccination, and then it will be replaced. It will be replaced because we have made some changes with more enhanced features.”
He also added that persons who will be going for the second jab should expect side effects.
It will be recalled at Ghana received about 365,000 doses for the second phase of the vaccination programme.
Although not enough, the Director-General has assured that the government is working on ensuring that it secured the rest of the doses.
So far, about 852,000 individuals have had their fair share of the first injection.
The exercise is expected to end on the 26th of May 2021.
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Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith