Summary : 24th Update On Measures Taken Against The Spread Of Covid-19

The President of Ghana,Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was set to address the nation on measures take against the spread of Covid-19 in Ghana, today, February 28,2021.

Today marks exactly 73 years from one of the scared days of our nation,Ghana. That was when the 1948 Christiansborg Crossroads shooting occurred. This situation led to the martyrdom of Sergeant Adjetey,Corporal Attipoe,and Private Odartey Lamprey,martyrdoms that ignited the nationalist movement, and led us to the freedom we enjoy today. 

Below Is The Summary Of The 24th Address.

1. Government was able to secure 600,000 doses of AstraZeneca (Covid-19) vaccines,the first consignment ,which arrived in the country on Wednesday, February 24,2021. 

2. Ghana is the first country in the world to to be recipients of vaccines from the COVAX Facility.

3. The AstraZeneca vaccine is one of two(2) vaccine that  have, so far, been approved and declared as safe-for-use by the FDA. With the process of certification currently ongoing for the other vaccines,the range of vaccines available to bus will increase - This will lead to the vaccination of 20million people by the end of this year. 

4. Through the National Vaccine Development Plan, our population has been segmented into four groups, and it will determine which section of population gets vaccinated at a particular time. 

• Group 1

> Persons Most at risk and frontline state officials. It includes healthcare workers,front line security personnel,persons with underlying medical conditions, persons 60years and above,and front line members of the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary. 

• Group 2 

> Other essential service providers and the rest of the security agencies. It includes water and electricity supply services, teachers and students,supply and distribution of fuels,farmers and food value chain,telecommunications services,air traffic and civil aviation control services, meteorological devices,air transport services, waste management services, media,public and private commercial transport service,the Police service, Armed Forces ,Prisons Service,Immigration Service,National Fire Service,CEPS Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority,and other members of the Executive, Judiciary, and Legislature. 

• Group 3

>The rest of the general public. All persons over 18 years,except for pregnant women.

• Group 4. 

> Pregnant mothers and persons under the age of 18, and they will be vaccinated when an approximate vaccine, hopefully, is found,or when enough safety data on the present vaccines is available. 

5. Special arrangement for persons with disabilities who fall within these group. 

6. From Tuesday, March 2,to March 15,the Ghana Health Service will begin deployment of 600,000 AstraZeneca vaccines,with persons in groups 1and 2  being the target of the first phase. 

It will be conducted in 43 districts,which are the epi-centres of the pandemic in the country. They are 25 in Greater Accra,16 in Ashanti, and 2 in Central Region. 

7. Whilst we are,initially,concentrating on the 43 epicentre-districts,preparations are being made for the vaccination of 20million Ghanaians through the deployment of some 12,471 vaccinators, 37,413 volunteers, and 2,079 supervisors for the entire vaccination campaign. 

8. The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA),one of the most reputable in Africa and in the world, has certified the safe use of the vaccine. 

9. Taking the vaccine will not alter your DNA,it will not embed a tracking device in your body,neither will it cause infertility in women or in men. 

10. The President, and first lady,on Monday, March 1,will take the vaccine publicly at two health facilities in Accra. 

11. Key public officials such as the Speaker and Members of Parliament,the Chief Justice and Justices of the Superior Court Judicature, Chairperson and Member of the council of state,the Chief of Staff and Senior officials at the Office of the President, and prominent personalities like some Eminent Clergy, the National Chief Imam,the Aaantehene,the Ga Mantse,and some media practitioners will also, on Tuesday, take the jab publicly. This is being done because the vaccine will help protect us against the impact of Covid-19 on our health. 

12. As at Friday,26th February, 2021,the total number of Active cases stood at 5,444,ur daily infection rate is 400 and 77,972 recoveries have been recorded. 

The President emphasized that Ghanaians should continue to adhere to the COVID-19 protocols even after taking the vaccine.