The ongoing Yellow Fever Vaccination exercise which started on November 12, in the Bolgatanga Municipality of the Upper East Region has reportedly vaccinated over 60,000 persons with barely two days to the end of the campaign.
The nationwide campaign under the theme “Get vaccinated, be protected against Yellow Fever”, is expected to vaccinate persons between 10 and 60 years of age; as a way to help reduce unimmunized children and provide a life-long protection to persons who will be vaccinated.
In the Upper East region, the exercise is being carried out in 10 selected Municipalities and Districts.
The Bolgatanga Municipal Health Director, Edmond Nyanwuru, in an interview with A1 Radio, underscored the importance of the vaccination exercise saying “In the event that one gets yellow fever, the probability of survival is 0.5% and because of that the best way to prevent that is to protect ourselves with the vaccine.”
Mr. Nyanwuru said about Eighty- five Thousand people have been targeted in the Bolgatanga Municipality but was quick to note that his outfit has so far been able to vaccinate over 60,000 people; interpreted as 81% coverage. He was hopeful that they will meet their target by close of the set date, Wednesday, November 18, 2020.
“ We have targeted in the Bolgatanga Municipality about Eighty- five thousand people and currently we have been able to vaccine over sixty thousand, so we have a coverage of about 81% and we are hoping that we will meet the target by close of tomorrow.” He stated.
Mr. Nyanwuru cautioned pregnant women and severely ill persons, as well as those below 10 years of age and above 60 years to avoid being vaccinated because they are not eligible.
To ensure easy accessibility, mobile teams of health volunteers have been stationed at various communities and vantage points; and fixed teams will also be at various service delivery points in health facilities to administer the Yellow Fever Vaccine to eligible persons.
The vaccination exercise, according to the Ghana Health Services was originally slated for April 15 but had to be rescheduled because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1MHZ| Agyeyuure Philomina |Ghana
