H1N1 outbreak: Arrival of vaccines delayed until next week

Students and staff of the Kumasi Acadamy will have to wait a while longer to receive vaccines against the deadly H1N1 Influenza which has killed four students in the past fortnight, with many others on anti-virus to prevent the spread of the disease.

This is because the vaccines which were expected in the country on Sunday will now delay till next week.

Antiviral drugs – Tamiflu – for the treatment of the H1N1 Influenza were expected in Ghana on Friday from the World Health Organization which is supplying the drugs based on a request from government as it struggles to contain the situation at the school and other areas.

Vaccines for the swine flu are also expected over the weekend.

“The Ministry of Health, Ghana Health Service and the Ministry of Education met with the WHO Ghana Representative soon after press briefing on 7th December 2017 and arrangements have been made to procure and air lift anti-viral agents (Tamiflu) and vaccines for use. Some students and staff have already received vaccinations,” a statement signed by the GES’ Director-General Prof. Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa stated.

It continued that Tamiflu is expected in the country by 15 December 2017 and the vaccines by 16th December, 2017 noting “The situation is under control and there have not been new reported cases.”

But the Director of Disease Surveillance at the Ghana Health Service, Dr Asiedu Bekoe has said the vaccines have delayed due to the a challenge encountered by the World Health Organization Supplier in shipping the vaccines into the country.