Dr. Emmanuel Addipa-Adapoe, a Medical Officer at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, has called for continued COVID-19 testing and vaccination in Ghana.
Despite the World Health Organisation (WHO) declaring an end to the global health emergency of COVID-19 in 2022, Dr. Addipa-Adapoe emphasized that the disease still poses a global threat and urged authorities to maintain vigilance.
Speaking at a training workshop for journalists on vaccine uptake, Dr. Addipa-Adapoe expressed concerns about the lack of public education regarding Ghana’s vaccination status against COVID-19. He stressed the importance of advocating for the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine in preventing severe illness and death.
Following President Akufo-Addo’s declaration of the end of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana in May 2023, Ghana has seen new cases of the virus. Despite the low alarm level, the Head of the Emergency Unit at the Accra Regional Hospital emphasized the importance of unvaccinated individuals voluntarily seeking COVID-19 testing and vaccination.
Dr. Addipa-Adapoe praised the media for their role in educating the public on preventive measures during the pandemic and called for continued collaboration between the media and authorities to promote public awareness of the safety and availability of COVID-19 vaccines.