Stop creating fear & panic over malaria vaccine - Doctor

A public health physician, Dr Jehu Appiah, has rubbished suggestions of impotency and physical disability after one is exposed to the new malaria vaccine.

The medical doctor has therefore asked Ghanaians to ignore the viral video and audio which had people speaking against the vaccine.

He told Kwabena Agyapong on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm that all the claims are baseless, and should be treated with contempt.

He described the vaccine as good and asked Ghanaians to embrace it tp prevent our children from needless deaths.

Although he said the vaccine was not 100% effective, it will go a long way to help reduce the number of malaria related deaths in children.

He said ”let us not create fear and panic. This is a beautiful idea and I don’t think we have to be creating unnecessary panic.”

When asked if there were no side effects he said, there is no drug without any side effect but it does not mean people should desist from taking in drugs to cue their diseases.

He stressed on the need for the public to accept this scientific development and ”do away with the fear and panic”.

The vaccine he noted went through rigorous medical trials and its efficacy cannot be underestimated.

He called for public education and awareness to dispel all the rumours and myths associated with the vaccine.

The Malaria Vaccine implementation in Ghana will start in selected districts in four regions (Central, Volta, Brong Ahafo, and Upper East Regions).

The vaccine is an injectable vaccine that has been added to existing malaria preventive measures for children. This is the first time a malaria vaccine is being provided to children in routine immunization.

The vaccine is expected to the chances that the child will get severe malaria

The malaria vaccine is given in four (4) doses at age 6 months, 7 months, 9 months and 24 months.

The malaria vaccine is given as an injection on the child’s left thigh by a trained health worker.

A child must receive all 4 doses to get the most protection.