ACCRA, Ghana (AP) – Ghana has become the first country in the world to receive vaccines acquired through the COVAX initiative, supported by the United Nations, with a delivery of 600,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine prepared by the Serum Institute of India.
The vaccines, delivered by UNICEF, arrived at Accra International Airport early on Wednesday and are part of the first wave of COVID-19 vaccines sent by COVAX, an international cooperative program formed to ensure that countries of income low and medium have fair access to Vaccines against covid19. COVAX is led by the United Nations World Health Organization; Gavi, a group of vaccines; and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).
Ghana is among the 92 low- and middle-income countries that receive free vaccines through COVAX. Another 90 countries and eight territories have agreed to pay if they choose to receive vaccines through COVAX.
The 30 million West African nation has reported 81,245 cases and 584 deaths since the start of the pandemic, according to data from Ghana Health Services on Tuesday.
Ghana’s vaccination campaign will begin on March 2 and will be carried out in phases between priority groups, starting with health workers, adults aged 60 and over, people with underlying health conditions, front-line executive, legislature, judiciary and its related staff, the Acting Minister of Ghana. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said in a statement.
“The Ghanaian government remains determined to ensure the well-being of all Ghanaians and is making frantic efforts to procure adequate vaccines to cover the entire population through bilateral and multilateral agencies,” he said.
In a joint statement, UNICEF and WHO national representatives described the arrival of COVAX vaccines as a key “transcendental occasion” to end the pandemic.
“After a year of interruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic … the road to the recovery of the people of Ghana can finally begin,” the statement said.
The shipment of COVAX to Ghana is the start of what will be the world’s largest vaccine supply and supply operation, according to the statement. COVAX plans to deliver nearly 2 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines worldwide this year.
“Today marks the historic moment for which we have been planning and working so hard. With the first dose delivery, we can fulfill the promise of the COVAX center to ensure that people from less affluent countries are not left behind in the race for life-saving vaccines, ”said Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director.
“The next phase of the fight against this disease can begin: the rise of the largest vaccination campaign in history,” Fore said. “Every step of this journey takes us further on the path to recovery for the billions of children and families affected around the world.”
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Petesch reported from Dakar, Senegal.