The Ghana Health Service has raised alarms over increasing cases of Rubella and measles in the Volta Region, attributing the outbreaks to vaccine hesitancy. A significant number of children were left unimmunized in mid-2024, with 7,865 children missing their Penta 3 vaccinations and 9,459 missing their Measles/Rubella 2 doses, according to recent data. This worrying trend was highlighted by the Volta Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. Chrisantus Kubio, during a stakeholder engagement in Ho.
“Recently, Ghana has seen measles outbreaks in several districts, including those in the Volta Region. Available data indicates a rise in Rubella cases as well,” stated Dr. Kubio. “This year, the region has confirmed eight (8) measles cases, which remains below the epidemic threshold. However, to prevent further spread, national mass vaccination campaigns will be conducted across all districts in Ghana, including all 16 regions of the Volta Region, from October 2nd to October 6th, 2024.”
Dr. Kubio urged parents to ensure their children are vaccinated, warning, “Failing to vaccinate all children against vaccine-preventable diseases has dire consequences.”
Dr. Senanu Kwasi Djokoto, the Volta Regional Deputy Director of Health Services, called for stronger stakeholder collaboration to boost vaccination rates by addressing misinformation and disinformation that have fueled vaccine hesitancy. He noted that after 11 COVID-19 vaccination campaigns, only 538,195 out of the targeted 1,113,194 individuals have been fully vaccinated in the Volta Region by September 2024, representing just 48.3% of the population.
“When misinformation precedes accurate information, correcting it and creating demand is extremely challenging. We’ve encountered this cycle repeatedly, but there are signs of gradual improvement,” said Dr. Djokoto. He encouraged residents to continue accepting COVID-19 vaccinations at nearby facilities to achieve herd immunity and protect the community. He further emphasized that, given the global increase in COVID-19 cases, vaccination efforts must persist.
Dr. Djokoto announced plans to make COVID-19 vaccinations routine, particularly for vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, individuals over 65 years old, and those with underlying medical conditions, to enhance accessibility and protection.