The Minister for Health, Mr Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, has assured that all necessary efforts have been made to secure adequate supplies of some routine childhood vaccines in a few weeks.
Addressing the media in Accra on Tuesday, the Minister confirmed that there was currently a nationwide shortage of some child-related vaccines.
He stated,” It is true we have had some vaccine shortages in the country since the last quarter of 2022. The vaccines in short supply are BCG, Measles-Rubella (MR) and Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV). This shortage is nationwide.”
Mr Agyemang-Manu indicated that the shortage and its effect on the Vaccination Programme were major concerns for the Ministry, partners and caregivers.
“We are aware of the implications of the shortages including disease outbreaks and effects on child survival,” he emphasized.
He stated that the Ministry was working with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to speed up the procurement processes and that the vaccines would be delivered within the next few weeks.
Patience Anaadem, ISD
