In a significant effort to combat the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Ashanti Regional Health Directorate has officially launched its 8th COVID-19 Vaccination Week Campaign under the banner, “Protect Yourself, Protect Your Family, Get Vaccinated Against COVID-19 Now.”
The campaign, which commenced on the 20th of September, 2023, and will run until the 24th of September, aims to target a population of 156,630 individuals across various sectors, including households, schools, lorry stations, churches, mosques, and all health facilities, among others.
Dr. Emmanuel Tenkorang, the Ashanti Regional Health Director, emphasised the readiness of the Health Directorate to administer vaccines to the population.
He called on the people of the region to welcome health personnel into their respective places, ensuring a smooth and widespread vaccination process.
Dr. Tenkorang also reassured the public that the government has provided all necessary equipment, personnel, and resources to effectively combat the spread of the virus through this campaign.
One of the critical challenges highlighted by Dr. Tenkorang is vaccine hesitancy among the population. He stressed that this hesitancy is a significant obstacle to achieving herd immunity.
As of August 30, 2023, the region has administered a total of 4,624,145 vaccine doses, with 1,871,509 individuals (56.9%) fully vaccinated and 2,565,108 people (78.6%) having received at least one dose.
The launch of this vaccination campaign underscores the region’s commitment to ending the COVID-19 pandemic by increasing vaccination rates and combating vaccine hesitancy.
It serves as a reminder that vaccination remains one of the most effective tools in our fight against the virus, protecting not only individuals but also entire communities and families.