Parents, Health Service On Warpath Over Swine Flu Vaccination

Some angry parents are demanding explanations from the Ghana Health Service on why they have been made to pay GH¢250 to vaccinate their wards against H1N1 flu virus (Swine Flu).

Some of them who visited the Adabraka Clinic for the vaccination were seen arguing with the hospital staff Friday.

They did not understand why the cost which was initially borne by the government has now been transferred to them.

The others who were able to afford it went ahead to vaccinate their children.

The situation is not different in Kumasi as a student of Prempeh SHS told Joy News although he desperately needs the shot, he is unsure if his father can afford it.

The swine flu vaccination has become crucial after students in Kumasi Academy died after contracting the H1N1 flu virus late last year.

Others across the country also died from a meningitis outbreak.

The Health and Education ministries reported that they have procured critical medicines from the World Health Organisation (WHO) to tackle the outbreak of swine flu which claimed the lives of four students at KUMACA.

The medicines include Tamiflu, an anti-viral agent, and H1N1 influenza vaccines.

The outbreaks of the viral diseases have been blamed on congestion at the secondary schools.

In December last year, the Director General of the Service, Dr Nsia Asare, was emphatic that the cost of vaccinating students will be borne by the government.

But the Adabraka Hospital authorities told Joy News the vaccines used by hospitals in the country were not brought in by the government.

They explained that it was imported into the country through a license a pharmaceutical company, Ernest Chemist, and the health facilities who need it procure it.