The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has moved to clarify the mandatory Covid-19 vaccination directive, following simmering controversy from a section of the public.
Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Patrick Kuma Aboagye, said at a press briefing on Thursday, December 16, 2021 that the effective date for that mandatory vaccinations will be made by the Minister in January next year.
“Persons who are likely to be affected are all health workers who should be vaccinated. All security personnel should be vaccinated, all staff and students from tertiary and secondary schools should be vaccinated, all government workers are affected, and all commercial drivers are affected and to encourage them that’s why we are providing vaccines,” he said.
He indicated that venues such as nightclubs, beaches, sports stadia, restaurants and government offices and hospitals will also be affected by the mandatory vaccination.
According to Dr Aboagye, the vaccine mandate is necessary for the government to prevent a fourth wave and protect the citizenry from coronavirus.
He added that per the sharp rise in the cases during the Christmas season last year, the government has introduced some measures to prevent the situation from recurring.
Some of the measures include a 25 per cent capacity for indoor events, organising outdoor events in open-air spaces amongst others.
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“There are other measures that we will use to avert the surge post-Christmas. We are encouraging all persons who intend to access indoor events to get vaccinated, event organisers should encourage persons accessing such locations to get vaccinated and outdoor events in open-air spaces should be encouraged and such locations include sports stadia, football parks, outdoor events are all areas that we want to encourage.
“The capacity for indoor events must not go beyond 25 per cent of the existing capacity of that facility to ensure social distancing and we have also made our teams ready that all those organising events should invite our team to come and assist them in the setting up to ensure that the place is safe,” he said.
The mandatory vaccination directive has been met with mixed reactions from a section of the public, with some warning that there might legal implications to forcing people to take the vaccine.