ACCRA, Ghana – Ghana became the first country in the world to receive vaccines obtained through the United Nations – backed COVAX initiative, with a delivery of 600,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine made by the Serum Institute of India .
The vaccines, delivered by UNICEF, arrived at Accra International Airport early Wednesday and are part of the first batch of Covid-19 vaccines sent by COVAX, an international co-operation program set up to ensure low-income countries and middle income have fair access to Covid19 vaccines.
COVAX is led by the United Nations World Health Organization; Gavi, a vaccine group; and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, or CEPI.
Ghana is among 92 low- and middle-income countries receiving vaccines free of charge through COVAX. Another 90 countries and eight territories have agreed to pay if they choose to receive vaccinations via COVAX.
The West African nation of 30 million has recorded 81,245 cases and 584 deaths since the start of the pandemic, according to figures from the health services in Ghana on Tuesday.
Ghana’s vaccination campaign will start on March 2 and will be conducted in phases among priority groups, starting with health workers, adults aged 60 and older, people with underlying health conditions, CEO, legislator, judiciary and their related staff, acting Ghanaian minister. of information Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said in a statement.
“The government of Ghana remains determined to ensure the well – being of all Ghanaians and is making concerted efforts to obtain sufficient vaccines to cover the entire population through bilateral and multilateral agencies,” he said.
In a joint statement, UNICEF and WHO country representatives described the arrival of the COVAX vaccines as an “important opportunity” that is critical to ending the pandemic.
“After a year of disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic … the road to recovery may finally begin for the people of Ghana,” the statement said.
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According to the statement, the COVAX shipment to Ghana is the beginning of the largest vaccination and supply of vaccines in the world. COVAX plans to deliver nearly 2 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines worldwide this year.
‘Today is the historic moment for which we have planned and worked so hard. With the first dose, we can live up to the promise of the COVAX facility to ensure that people from less wealthy countries do not lag behind in the race for life-saving vaccines, ”said Henrietta Fore, Executive Director of UNICEF.
“The next phase in the fight against this disease could begin – building the largest vaccination campaign in history,” Fore said. world affected. ”