Ghana is planning to invest $25 million as seed money in the establishment of a National Vaccine Institute in order to accelerate the country’s efforts to produce vaccines locally.
During his 26th nation address, President Akufo-Addo stated that the establishment of the institute is one of the recommendations made by a committee led by scientist Professor Frimpong Boateng to develop a concrete plan for vaccine development and manufacturing in Ghana.
President Akuffo-Addo said, “The global shortage of vaccines means that we must develop our capacity to produce our own vaccines domestically. Government is committed to eject seed funding of some $25million this year into this whole enterprise. This institute will be charged with establishing local vaccines manufacturing plans, deepening research in development for vaccines in Ghana.
A compressor from medical experts, government has imposed a ban on post funeral and wedding receptions while limiting the duration of funerals to 2 hours.
“All large events must be held in open air space, the wearing of masks continues to be mandatory. Given the people sitting together to eat, drink, laugh and talk in large gatherings without masks are the riskiest activities for spreading the virus. All post event receptions particularly related to weddings and funerals are banned.”, the president said.
The president also revealed that government is procuring 18,478,670 vaccines to the Covax facility, the African medicine supply platform and other bodies to aid in the fight against the pandemic
“we are expecting through the covax facility and the African Union 1,229, 670 doses of the Fizer vaccines from the government of the United States of America and 249,000 Astrozanika vaccines from the United States government. Government is also in the process of procuring 17 million Johnson and Johnson single dose per person vaccines through the African medium Supply platform in this quarter.”
Source:3news
