Coronavirus vaccine may be ready in 2021, protect yourself - GHS to Ghanaians

Director General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye says vaccine to treat the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) may be ready next year.

Speaking in an interview with host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo', Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye noted that like the most severe influenza pandemic which occurred in 1918 called 'Spanish flu', hasn't become extinct but rather being treated with vaccine, the COVID-19 likewise may not easily disappear.

He was hopeful a vaccine will be developed to treat patients.

"Spanish flu didn't disappear. It is the same flu we have today. The 1918 flu is the same flu today," he said.

COVID-19 has become the bane of the entire Universe, threatening world economies and claiming lives of many people.

Scientists across the globe have been working tirelessly to fight the pandemic by ensuring patients fully recover from the virus infection and also working around the clock to provide vaccine to remedy the situation.

1042 people in Ghana have currently tested positive for COVID-19 with 99 fully recovered and 9 deaths recorded. More than 60000 people whose samples were taken through the enhanced surveillance testing by the Government of Ghana have also tested negative.

The question bothering the minds of many people is how soon will vaccines be made available to relieve the world of this life-threatening virus.

Answering this question, Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye disclosed that the earliest possible time for the vaccine development will be in 2021.

He therefore advised Ghanaians to continue to adhere to the safety protocols and also boost their immune system by taking appropriate nutrition and having rest, not engaging in stressful activities in order to fight against the COVID-19 in the absence of a vaccine.

"I know there are many scientists working out to come up with a vaccine but what we hear is that probably, the earliest time will be somewhere in 2021. The whole thing is about your own immunity as a people which will help in making sure that you may get it, but it is not as severe as it is and that's our luck. We're hoping that it remains the same way and so that is why we still say that all the other bans on gathering . . . should stay . . . the borders are closed . . . So, if you follow all the education about social distancing which the whole world is using, definitely it will help us to resolve the situation," he adviced.