Expedite procurement of more Covid-19 vaccine to boost public confidence – Gov’t told

Ghana Immunization Advocacy Initiative (IAI) has urged government to expedite procurement of Covid-19 vaccines to continue the nationwide exercise.

According to the network, the call is to increase public awareness to ensure that the progress made in addressing vaccine hesitancy within the period is not eroded.

"Expedite procurement of the second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine and increase public awareness to ensure that the progress made in addressing vaccine hesitancy within the period is not eroded."

He said this in an event to mark this year’s “World Immunization Week” on the backdrop that government’s commitment towards general immunization is low.

“Presently government is utilizing an unspecified portion of the National Health Fund (NHF) to support the procurement of vaccines and routine immunization activities. This may not be sustainable and could present serious challenges for securing vaccines for immunization of children under 5.

“The network holds the view that the government’s commitment to immunization vaccination is low”, a statement released said.

As part of the World Immunization Week, for this year, the group comprising Send Ghana, Hope For Future Generations (HFFG) and the Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Health in statement urged government to prioritize all levels of funding vaccination.

The statement said, in spite of the additional challenges of Covid-19 and Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) outbreak last year, exposing the existential financial gaps faced in the health sector, national budgetary allocation for vaccination has declined from 7.66% to 7.5% in 2020 and 2021 respectively.

This year’s World Immunization Week is under the theme “Vaccines Brings Us Closer”.

As part of this year’s celebration, the network says it will be engaging health system decision makers on immunization financing at all levels in government, raise awareness on the importance of routine immunization at the community level, building confidence and trust among citizens, leading to increased vaccine acceptance

Among the recommendations, it proposed funding the fiscal space to sustain an increase in budgetary allocation to the health sector, and increasing budget support for the expanding programme on immunization, invest in research and development, build the capacity of local pharmaceutical companies to respond to Ghana’s immunization needs and future pandemics through local vaccine manufacturing and development programs.

Also, set aside a dedicated budget to finance Epidemic Preparedness and Implementation of the National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) of epidemics as well as the Ghana Centre for Disease Control to respond to the threat of epidemics.