The lack of kid immunizations, according to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, would severely impact Ghana's Childhood Immunization Program if it persists.
He voiced concern about the vaccine scarcity and said that attempts were being made to get them promptly to immunize the youngsters while delivering the State of the Nations Address (SONA) 2023 on the floor of Parliament.
"Mr. Speaker, I must admit that the present scarcity of certain kid immunizations in the nation has me quite worried. The Ghanaian Childhood Immunization Program, regarded as one of the most effective in the world, may suffer if this scarcity persists.
The focus on combating COVID-19 has caused the WHO to just lately raise concerns over a persistent drop in measles vaccine coverage worldwide.
The government has taken action to guarantee that supplies of these vaccinations are bought and distributed as a matter of urgency since we don't want to follow this worldwide trend.
To catch up on youngsters who had missed their vaccines as soon as supplies came, the Ghana Health Service created a complex scheme.
"Once this initiative is underway, I want to urge all parents and other adults to make sure that all eligible children get vaccinations."
"Vaccinations shouldn't be withheld from any youngster. Thankfully, no children have perished from the epidemic to this yet, the President remarked.
Even though the National Health Insurance Authority told the Parliament's Health Committee that more than GH70 million had been granted for their purchase, there are indications that there is a scarcity of vaccinations in certain regions of the country.
The shortfall, which has led to the measles epidemic since October 2022, was cited by the Minority in Parliament at a news conference on Tuesday as a glaring example of the government's failure to keep its commitment.
In compliance with Article 67 of Ghana's 1992 Constitution, which mandates that the President address Parliament with a message on the SONA at the beginning of each session and before it is dissolved, the SONA is presented.
The Commander-In-Chief of the Ghanaian Armed Forces gives a status report on the nation and reveals the government's plans for the next year.
Members of Parliament, the Speaker, and the Judiciary must accept the President's SONA, according to Ghana's 1992 Constitution's Article 67.
