Health Ministry, GHS receive first consignment of Measles vaccines

The Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service (GHS) on Saturday, March 11, 2023, took delivery of the first consignment of Measles vaccines, BCG vaccines and Oral Polio Vaccines.

The Ministry of Information in a Facebook post said distribution to various regions and facilities is underway.

The Information Ministry assured that more vaccines are expected in the country in the coming weeks from multiple sources.

“Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Service receive first consignment of Measles vaccines, BCG vaccines and Oral Polio Vaccines. Distribution to various regions and facilities underway. More vaccines expected in Ghana in the coming weeks from multiple sources,” the Information Ministry posted on Facebook.

The Minister of Health Kwaku Agyemang-Manu addressing Parliament on Thursday, March 9, reiterated his promise that efforts are underway to ensure that vaccines are procured for children in the next few weeks.

“Mr. Speaker, we are expecting to receive vaccines within two to three weeks. We have done all the necessary arrangements and within two to three weeks we should get vaccines. We have done everything to ensure that we get these vaccines earlier, but it will be very difficult for me to tell you exactly when the vaccines will arrive,” Agyemang-Manu said.

Meanwhile the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has urged caregivers to desist from rushing to hospitals for the vaccines.

The GHS said the Ministry of Health has made adequate provisions for the supply of the vaccines that will last for the rest of the year and beyond.

The vaccines, according to GHS include: BCG, OPV and Measles with accompanying devices such as needles, syringes and safety box.

A statement issued and signed by the GHS Director-General, Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, on March 12, said, “the Ministry of Health/Ghana Health Service has just taken delivery of some childhood vaccines that have been in short supply in the country for some time now. The vaccines are free and can be obtained at designated health facilities and all Child Welfare Clinics (weighing centers) across the country. We entreat all caregivers not to rush for the vaccine since the Ministry of Health has made adequate provisions for vaccines for the rest of the year and beyond”.