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HealthTue, 9 Mar, 21

"I Don't Think That Any Government Will Acquire Vaccines That Do Not Work For Their People; I believe that even a 1% chance that the vaccine can give you is better than nothing" Real Estate Players Urge Ghanaians To Accept Covid-19 Vaccine

"I Don't Think That Any Government Will Acquire Vaccines That Do Not Work For Their People; I believe that even a 1% chance that the vaccine can give you is better than nothing" Real Estate Players Urge Ghanaians To Accept Covid-19 Vaccine

“The new strain of coronavirus is called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The virus causes coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). Around -80% of people with COVID-19 recover without specialist treatment. These people may experience mild, flu-like symptoms. However, 1 in 6 people may experience severe symptoms, such as trouble breathing. The new coronavirus has spread rapidly in many parts of the world. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic. A pandemic occurs when a disease that people are not immune to spreads across large regions. The recent outbreak began in Wuhan, a city in the Hubei province of China. Reports of the first COVID-19 cases started in December 2019…When people with COVID-19 breathe out or cough, they expel tiny droplets that contain the virus. These droplets can enter the mouth or nose of someone without the virus, causing an infection to occur.” – https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/coronavirus-causes#transmission 

In Ghana the first two cases of COVID-19 were confirmed on March 12, 2020. A few days from today (Tuesday, March 9, 2021)  to exactly a year,  the current statistical updates from the Ghana Health Service (https://ghanahealthservice.org/covid19/latest.php)  indicates that nationally figures stand at a total recorded cases of 86,465 , of which  4,866 are active, 80,952 recovered or discharged;  and 647 recorded deaths.

Aside the daily protocols of hand washing, sanitizer use, facemask wearing and keeping social distance which Government has enforced in the past year and running; the religious world has also backed these national efforts with prayers from Christians, Moslems and Traditional religion believers for a cure  to be figured out for the dangerous virus.

Finally, the much prayed for vaccine (in the absence of an outright cure) has been certified by the World Health Organisatiion (WHO). Despite the ongoing public debate and doubts about the safety of the vaccine and its possible implications, the Government of Ghana on February 24, took delivery of 600,000 AstraZeneca vaccines according to the WHO’s global vaccine-sharing programme. 

The Presidency thus took it upon itself to set examples, as President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, his wife Her Excellency Rebecca Akufo-Addo, the Vice President Dr. Mahmud Bawumia and his wife  Samira Bawumia were the first to be publicly injected with the vaccine on March 1, 2021.

Aside the Presidency, other stately figures, individuals and institutions such as  Former President John Dramani Mahama, the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II,  Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin and Members of Parliament, the Chief Justice, Justice Anin Yeboah and Justices of the Superior Court, Chairperson and Members of the Council of State, the Chief of Staff and senior officials at the Office of the President have publicly taken their jabs.

Furthermore, Dr Kwame Amponsa-Achiano, Programme Manager of Expanded Programme on Immunization at the Ghana Health Service, the CEO of Ghana Employers’ Association (GEA), Mr. Alex Frimpong among others have all urged Ghanaians to take their jabs, as well as employers to make plans for  smooth vaccination of workers.

The Real Estate Industry players have added their voice to these calls for members and Ghanaians at large to take the Covid-19 Vaccines procured by Government. In an exclusive interview with Real Estate Times Africa, the Human Resource Manager of Krane Construction Ltd; Madam Nana Yaa Boateng has asked Ghanaians to completely do away with fears of  taking the Coronavirus Vaccine jab, since no Government would procure  an ill thing for its people. She strongly disabused people’s minds from viewing the vaccine negatively.

No, we don’t have fears at all. We should be able to trust the system. I don’t think any Government, and it doesn’t matter which party whether NDC , NPP or any other; I don’t think that any Government will procure vaccines that do not work  for their people. The president Nana Addo has given us the assurance that, he will ensure that the right vaccines come to Ghana. I have friends in the US who have taken the vaccine and are fine. Even in Europe and America information also came that the vaccine can do this…, can do that…What we forget is that the polio, tuberculosis and other vaccines  all started as new but we have come to this point where we are comfortable and happy with our children taking them”, she advocated.

The HRM in the construction industry noted that, despite the fact that there were a few unanswered questions about the vaccine by the manufacturers, it was still the best to embrace the vaccine under the current circumstances.

I think so, once the Government says this is what they have brought, I think we should embrace it. Except that - the other day I watched a video on social media. This was supposedly someone from WHO answering questions about the vaccine. It appeared not much was known about the extent of immunity, how long we will be immunised when we take the vaccine – whether it will be three months, six months; whether when you are vaccinated you can’t contract it again or you can’t give it to someone else. However, the one assurance they give is the prevention of fatalities. So we better just take it and let it work as long as it can. Our loved ones will not lose their lives to Covid-19 and for me that is a good reason to take it.”, Madam Nana Yaa Boateng urged.

Regimanuel Gray Limited, another local giant in the real estate development and home building business is all for the vaccine. Speaking in an exclusive interview with Real Estate Times Africa, the Managing Director, Mr. Ibrahim Bah, he called for people to go out and take the vaccine, even if its efficacy was only one percent.

I have taken it already, so I don’t know what kind of confusion it creates. I took it last week, I did not hesitate. I believe in science and whatever science can offer positively. I don’t look at conspiracy theories. I believe that even a one percent (1%) chance that the vaccine can give you is better than nothing. Notwithstanding the efficacy that the vaccine can give, if I have more than 60% chance of fighting the virus when I contract it by taking the vaccine; then there is no reason why I shouldn’t take it”, implored.

Ms. Bernice Addo, the CEO of Bernice Décor On her part, saw no wrong in taking the vaccination against Coronavirus, as long as it was a saviour under the current circumstances.

O yes, if it will help us, why not. We are struggling with this pandemic, and if finally God has made it possible for a vaccine to be produced, why not welcome it and take our jabs?” she questioned and encouraged.

Another industry player who wished his name withheld stated he was all for the vaccine.

I am all for it. I have taken it. My wife and her sisters took it in the States a few weeks ago. She is back with me and she is perfectly fine. There is no cure and we do not have a choice. People should freely go out and take their jabs”, he shared his story.

Going forward, whiles all citizens are encouraged to take their injections though, according to the order of urgency; many frontline workers the aged and people with underlining conditions (making them susceptible to the coronavirus) have taken their first jabs, awaiting the second.

 

Source: Yvette Appiah (Journalist, Real Estate Times Africa)

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