Minister of Health, Kweku Agyeman Manu, has stated the shortage of some childhood vaccines is symptomatic of the steady global decline in measles vaccination since the beginning of the covid-19 pandemic.
He assured, however, that the Ministry of Health is making efforts to ensure it secures adequate stocks of vaccines despite the global challenge.
The Minister gave the assurance at a press briefing at the Ministry of Information on Tuesday
The situation, he said, is a major source of worry for the Ministry, partners, caregivers, and population, and is aware of the implications of the shortages including disease outbreaks and effects on child survival.
He indicated that some of the vaccines that have run out of supply since the last quarter of 2022 are BCG, Measles-Rubella (MR), and Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV).
He stressed, however, the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) has been a flagship disease control program in the country and arguably one of the best if not the best in the sub-region with high coverage levels of over 95% and an established system for forecasting, procurement, supply and distribution of routine vaccines, and monitoring their use.
Meanwhile, the Minority in Parliament has taken President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the government to task for the shortage and the seeming lack of interest to replenish the stock.
According to the Minority, the fact that after four clear months when the shortage was first detected, the government has done nothing proactive to address the situation is worrying.
Ranking member of the Health Committee in Parliament, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, who addressed the media in Parliament over the matter painted a dire picture of the country’s ability to acquire vaccines with the Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunization (Gavi) threatening to withdraw its support.
He argued the situation is very sensitive because these vaccines are not sold over the counter for individual parents to acquire them for their children and stressed the Minority expects the Health Minister to announce it has taken delivery of the vaccines and has started distribution.
Mr. Akandoh stated it is even a crime in some jurisdictions to sit aloof and allow the shortages of vaccines and then look on unconcerned as vulnerable children get infected with diseases that can easily be prevented.
He disclosed the country uses two main ways of financing its vaccine acquisitions and that out of about 13 of these essential vaccines, GAVI is co-financing about ten and lamented the government is defaulting on the payment of the three vaccines.
He said, “GAVI believes the children cannot be punished because of the sins of politicians such as President Akufo-Addo, Vice President Bawumia, and Health Minister Kweku Agyeman-Manu.”
“So even though we owe, GAVI is still supplying those 10 vaccines. We as a country are supposed to, 100% procure about three that include vaccines for tetanus, polio, and measles, and yet with these three we are still defaulting.”
The Ranking disclosed that GAVI is considering withdrawing completely from its co-financing arrangement and quizzed, “So if we cannot finance only three of them and GAVI is considering withdrawing because we claim we are at a middle-income status if we cannot finance only three and GAVI withdraws we will be in deep troubles.”
According to him, an amount of GH¢72 million was approved in 2022 by Parliament for the procurement of vaccines as part of the allocation of the National Health Insurance Fund.
The Authority, he said, confirmed to the Health Committee at a meeting that they have released the GH¢72 million allocation for the vaccines in four tranches with the last done in December 2022.
“It beats my imagination that after the release of the money, there are shortages of vaccines in the country. We started recording missiles in this country around October 2022, four clear months ago.”
“This is an emergency situation and a clear failure of the government and the Minister who have looked on unconcerned for four months and we still don’t have vaccines in our system, and this is unpardonable.”
Hon. Akandoh raised an alarm that the instability in neighbouring Burkina Faso has pushed women with young children into Ghana’s territory that may not have been immunized posing yet another challenge to the Ghana health sector.
The situation, he said, is dire urged the government to do the needful and stressed this matter should not be swept under the carpet.