Faculty and staff of UHAS have been receiving vaccination against COVID-19 as part of the first rollout of the National Vaccination Programme. Arrangements have been made for faculty and staff of UHAS to get the vaccines at all campuses of the University from March 25 to April 2, 2021.
This phase of the rollout has prioritised frontline health workers, highly exposed persons and populations at risk of the coronavirus. The exercise will also cover students in their clinical and final years.
According to Vice Chancellor Professor John O. Gyapong, these arrangements were necessary because most faculty, staff and students are playing various frontline roles in the fight against the pandemic.
He, however, expressed worry over social media misinformation and propaganda on the vaccines with negative consequences on the vaccination exercise. He reiterated that the vaccination is “nothing unusual, it’s for our own public health.”
After getting his shot, the Vice Chancellor said he felt okay and that there was nothing scary about the exercise. He has called for intensive education on the subject to disabuse the minds of Ghanaians on the vaccines. He also encouraged Faculty and staff to take advantage of this opportunity.
The Registrar, Dr. Cynthia Sena Kpeglo, who also received the vaccine encouraged all staff of the University to participate in the exercise and continue to observe the COVID-19 Protocols.
Head of the UHAS Covid-19 Testing Centre, Dr. Kwabena Duedu, intimated that there is still much more to know about how the vaccine works in different populations and groups. For example, the duration for antibody protection against the virus is one of the areas to fully ascertain. Hence, the University Management has asked the COVID-19 Testing Centre to monitor individuals who take the vaccine to determine whether persons vaccinated produce antibodies, how long these antibodies last, and whether antibodies offer sufficient protection.
Dr. Duedu assured that the vaccine has been vetted by the required regulatory bodies, international and local, and has proven to be safe. Approval has been given for emergency use.