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Expect risks after covid-19 vaccination— Health expert warns Ghanaians

Expect risks after covid-19 vaccination— Health expert warns Ghanaians

The Director-General of the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), Dr Alexander Dodoo has called on the citizenry to expect risks after being vaccinated against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Although, he said the vaccine is safe but the citizenry should expect side effects after taking doses of the vaccine.

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“Though the vaccine is safe, there will be some tolerable risks related to being vaccinated which the population should be ready for, Dr Dodoo said.

In an interview on Joy News in Accra on Saturday as monitored by Spot On News, he revealed that children, pregnant women, people with allergies, underlying health conditions, and the aged would not be vaccinated against the virus.

According to him, those people could have complications if they receive the vaccination.

Ghana is expected to receive 19.5 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines by the end of June and according to Dr Dodoo these vaccines would be given to people with strong immunity in order to reduce the spread of the virus in the country.

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He indicated that children would not be included since they were now testing the vaccine.

“Normally for starters, children will not be included, they’re more protected and they’re not passing on the virus”

“Those with allergies, those with underlying health conditions, those whose immune system appears compromised will not be vaccinated as well,” Dr Dodoo added.

He stated that expectant mothers would not be vaccinated.

READ MORE: Massive sensitisation on COVID-19 vaccines needed ahead of its arrival— Okoe Boye

Expect risks after covid-19 vaccination— Health expert warns Ghanaians

Explaining his reason, Dr Dodoo said there was no scientific data to prove that the vaccines would be safe for them and their unborn babies when administered.

He was quick to add that pregnant women could only receive doses when a doctor recommend the vaccine for them after measuring the risks and benefits of the vaccine.

“You have to look at her as an individual and judge from the potential benefits and the harm that you know can also happen and make a call,” Dr Dodoo explained.

He further stated that people with HIV/AIDS, those on Cancer treatment and the aged would also not be vaccinated.

Dr Dodoo advised health practitioners to educate the general public on the need for the vaccine and its accompanying side effects in order to allay fears.

“We need to get the public ready not just for the vaccine but to also expect that the protection offered by the vaccine goes with some amount of risk. There will be side effects. And it’s not going to be 100% safe. It never happens. So we need to communicate that there will be a lot of benefits, but there will be an accompanying measurable amount of tolerable risk which the population should be ready for,” he said.

He indicated that the deployment of the vaccines would be done using the government’s Expanded Programme for Immunisation (EPI) to reach all 238 districts of Ghana.

Dr Dodoo however, stated that churches and mosques may also be used as vaccination centres should there be a need to do so.

“Deploying vaccines may sound like a small issue, but just imagine about 238 districts in Ghana and having to ensure that every vaccine is kept at the temperature it should be kept.”

“Also it must be given to people who are stated and then we follow up to ensure that they’re not damaged because, at the end of the day, safety becomes key.

“In the US they’re using FedEx to move vaccines around, they’re using pharmacies to deploy vaccines. In Ghana, it will be the usual system we have been using for EPI, the Expanded Programme for Immunisation but we cannot rule out the possibility that churches and mosques will be used as vaccination centres,” he added.

Source: www.spotonnews.net

 

Joyceline Natally Cudjoe

An Entertainment Columnist, Content Writer, Blogger, Novelist, Poet, and a Publicist. For business or story tip off, contact me on +233 24 646 6866 or email: [email protected]
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