The Deputy Public Health Director of the Ghana Health Service in the Western Region, Dr Gifty Amugi, is imploring parents and guardians to vaccinate their wards against the polio virus.
At a press briefing in Takoradi, Dr. Amugi says, the primary goal of the novel polio vaccine is to bolster population immunity and prevent the virus from spreading from the environment to humans.
The vaccination, which commences today, October 17, till Sunday, 20, 2024, is targeted to vaccinate children under 5 against the polio virus following the section of the poliovirus type 2 in Koforidua.
“The Ministry of Health would begin vaccination of children below 5 years against the polio virus from Thursday,17 October right down to Sunday, 20 October, 2024. We want to as a health service enforce vaccination against polio amongst our children, so that any circulating virus that may be within our communities, our children will be protected against it, ” Dr. Amugi said.
The polio vaccination, Dr . Amugi stated, has become necessary after the section of the polio type two virus in September. While no human cases have been confirmed, health officials emphasize the urgency of this campaign.
Dr. Amugi announced that the exercise will be done in two rounds.
Although the type 2 strain has been eliminated in most parts of the world due to successful vaccination campaigns, it can still resurface in areas with low vaccination coverage and poor hygiene.
“The vaccines are safe and have been approved by the FDA. Any child that will be vaccinated that may come down with any form of fever or illness, should report to the nearest health facility.
The vaccines are free, they will be moved to our homes, schools, markets, churches, and mosques with authorised nurses to ensure all children under 5 are fully vaccinated. We therefore implore parents and guardians to bring their children for vaccination,” She added.
