ACCRA, Ghana (AP) – Ghana has become the first country in the world to receive vaccines obtained through the United Nations-backed COVAX initiative with a supply of 600,000 doses of the 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 wave of COVID-19 vaccines shipped by COVAX, an international collaborative program designed to ensure that low- and middle-income countries have fair access to Covid19 vaccines. COVAX is led by the World Health Organization of the United Nations; Gavi, a vaccine group; and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, or CEPI.
Ghana is one of 92 low and middle income countries to receive free vaccines through COVAX. Another 90 countries and eight territories have agreed to pay if they choose to receive vaccines through 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 Ghana’s Health Services Tuesday.
Ghana’s vaccination campaign will begin on March 2 and will be conducted in phases among priority groups, starting with health professionals, adults aged 60 and over, people with underlying health issues, frontline executive, legislature, judiciary and their related personnel Ghana’s acting Minister of Information Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said in a statement.
“The government of Ghana remains resolute in ensuring the well-being of all Ghanaians and is making frantic efforts to obtain adequate vaccines for the entire population through bilateral and multilateral agencies,” he said.
In a joint statement, UNICEF and WHO country representatives describe the arrival of the COVAX vaccines as a “momentous occasion” crucial to ending the pandemic.
“After a year of disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic … the road to recovery for the people of Ghana can finally begin,” the statement said.
The COVAX shipment to Ghana marks the start of what will be the world’s largest vaccine procurement and supply operation in history, the statement said. COVAX plans to deliver nearly 2 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines around the world this year.
“Today marks the historic moment for which we have planned and worked so hard. With the first shipment of doses, we can deliver on the promise of the COVAX facility to ensure that people from less prosperous countries are not left behind in the battle for life-saving vaccines, ”said Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director.
“The next phase in the fight against this disease can begin – stepping up the largest vaccination campaign in history,” Fore said. “Every step on this journey takes us further on the path to recovery for the billions of children and families affected around the world.”
Petesch reported from Dakar, Senegal.