By Prince Acquah
Cape Coast, June 17, GNA – The Central Regional Health Directorate has appealed to the media in the region to intensify advocacy for the Inactivated Polio Vaccine Two (IPV2) to increase public acceptance to consolidate Ghana’s gains in the fight against polio.
It said the vaccine was free, safe and effective, and boosted the immunity of children against the polio virus.
Dr Benjamin Adjei, Regional Coordinator for the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), warned that the damage caused by the virus was permanent, and therefore entreated parents to present their babies for vaccination.
He made the call at an orientation meeting with some journalists in the region to sensitise them on the vaccine and promote responsible reportage.
IPV, administered through injection, is a vaccine used to protect children against the polio virus which ravages the nervous system and causes paralysis.
It complements the oral polio vaccine.
Following the successful roll out of IPV1 introduced in 2018, Ghana adopted IPV2 in November 2024 on the recommendation of the World Health Organisation (WHO) to provide an additional layer of protection for children.
This is although Ghana was declared polio free in 2015 with the last case of infection reported in 2008.
Dr Adjei observed that the intake of the vaccine had been generally acceptable but faced some challenges in several communities.
He noted that some 10 districts including Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam, Cape Coast, Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa, Effutu, Assin North, and Gomoa Central fell below the recommended 95 per cent coverage in the first quarter of 2025.
He attributed the situation to low vaccine uptake in some communities largely driven by religious and cultural beliefs, lack of collaboration from stakeholders, and inadequate funds for reviews and supervision.
The Regional EPI Coordinator, therefore, implored the media to create public awareness, monitor and report some peculiar challenges in various communities for prompt action by health officials.
“Advocacy for the vaccination must be intensified because the public trusts you,” he said.
“We need you to help us communicate better to the people to change their behaviours towards vaccines.
“Many mothers and fathers have beliefs which make them avoid vaccines. Help us to change such perceptions and behaviours,” he added.
He said they were working to achieve the idle coverage, assuring that the situation would be far better by the end of the second quarter.
He explained that IPV1 was given to children at week 14 and 1PV2 at seven months to fully protect them by age one.
Nonetheless, all children aged five and below also qualified for the vaccine.
Mr Kofi Sakyiamah Pobi, a Chief Editor with the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), entreated journalists to be guided by their professional code of ethics and desist from fabrications.
He insisted that they must always report the truth and uphold the public interest.
Expressing disquiet over the difficulties journalists faced in reaching out to the health authorities in the region, Mr Pobi urged the Directorate to reduce the bureaucracies to deepen collaboration with the media.
GNA
Edited by Alice Tettey/George-Ramsey Benamba