Polio Immunisation: Asutifi North District commences vaccination exercise

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has launched a polio immunisation campaign. This campaign targets children aged seven to 11 months in the Asutifi North District of the Ahafo Region. The goal is to protect these children from poliomyelitis.

In Ghana, the immunisation schedule starts at birth and continues until 18 months. It includes vaccines for tuberculosis, polio, hepatitis B, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, Haemophilus influenzae type B, measles, rubella, and yellow fever.

Ghana uses two types of polio vaccines: Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) and Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV). OPV contains poliovirus serotypes 1 and 3. IPV helps strengthen a child's immune system against polio.

Children receive four doses of OPV at specific ages: at birth, 6 weeks, 10 weeks, and 14 weeks. IPV is given at 14 weeks as well. These efforts aim to maintain high vaccination coverage and prevent outbreaks.

Stephen Owusu Sekyere is the Public Health Officer for Disease Control. At the campaign launch in Kenyasi, he stressed that unvaccinated children are vulnerable to polio. He urged parents and teachers to work with GHS for success.

Sekyere also addressed concerns about vaccine safety. He stated that claims about harmful effects are false. "The vaccines are approved and very safe," he reiterated.

Bryan Sienso is the District Director of GHS. He encouraged caregivers to report any side effects from vaccinations to health facilities promptly.

Sienso noted that routine polio vaccination coverage remains above 90 percent. He urged parents and teachers to ensure every child participates in the vaccination program.