GHS, partners develop rubella-measles vaccines

The Ghana Health Service and its partners have developed a rubella-measles containing vaccines that can eliminate the two viruses, as well as communicable diseases in line with the Sustainable Development Goal SDGs and the achievement of the Universal Health Coverage UHC, by the year 2030.
The vaccines are to be administered concurrently with the Vitamin A Supplementations to children from 9 to 59 months or under 5 years.
These were made known at this year’s launch of the measles-rubella and Vitamin A Campaign at the In Service Training Center of the Ghana Health Service, Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region.
It was under the theme, “Measles and Rubella kills: Vaccinate your child for good life”.
Within Ghana, measles outbreak continues to be reported in certain areas and it has been revealed that, a certain number of cases where people were tested negative for measles, a good number of such cases were rubella positive.
This together with the open nature of Ghana which lends itself to potential imported cases requires a continuous mob up vaccinations exercise to keep the two diseases at bay.
Speaking to GBC’s Radio Ghana, the Upper East Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr. Windfred Ofosu said the nationwide exercise which is expected to commerce on the 17th to 22nd of October 2018 will only be successful if all eligible children within the Upper East Region are well mobilised for the vaccination against the antigens and needed the concerted efforts of all.
He further stated that, the horrible news of measles in those days before the advent of the vaccines is now a thing of the past.
Dr. Ofosu indicated that, rubella is quite known to us especially when it affects pregnant women at the early stages, the babies develop abnormalities.
Measles and rubella are contagious viral diseases and they remain the cause of death and congenital abnormalities among children globally. He emphasised that, though measles deaths have reduced drastically by 84 percent worldwide, the disease is still common in many developing countries saying during the first half of the year, 22 suspected cases were recorded but none was positive.
Under the Global Vaccine Action Plan GVAP, measles and rubella have been targeted for elimination in five World Health Organization WHO regions by the year 2020 and this year’s campaign is geared towards the set time. Dr Ofosu explained that is important for all parents, guardians and all caregivers to avail their children who fall within the age brackets this opportunity to secure them against the burden of disease, disability and death from the scourge of measles and rubella.