The Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, has, according to Ghana News Agency report, urged those who receive their second vaccination against COVID-19 to continue observing the safety protocols, including wearing face masks.
“The second jab can give you some protection but not 100 per cent. Even the vaccine with the highest efficacy is about 94 per cent, which means that six per cent of those who have the vaccines may still be exposed to the virus,” he explained adding that AstraZenecca vaccines can provide about 76 per cent protection against COVID-19.
Dr Kuma-Aboagye was answering questions at the Ministry of Information organised press briefing to update the nation on COVID-19 management, especially the second phase of the vaccination programme.
The Chronicle is happy that the GHS has started giving early warning to those who are currently taking the second jab to keep wearing the facemasks. Sections of the people are under wrong allusion that once you take the second jab, you are completely immune from contracting the disease.
To such people, they can live a normal life and do not need to observe the safety protocols. The Chronicle shivers anything it hears such comments, because the World Health Organisation (WHO) had already warned that those who are fully vaccinated can still spread the disease if they contract it. This means, apart from the fact that the vaccine cannot give you a hundred per cent immunity, one can also spread it even after taking the second jab.
But whilst commending Dr Patrick Kumah Aboagye for his early warning, we wish to also advise him not to limit his campaign to only press conferences in Accra. He must send his regional and district representatives to move from one hamlet to the other, urging the people to keep on wearing the facemasks, even after taking the second jab.
Though our suggestion may fall outside the mandate of the Ghana Police Service, we think it will not be farfetched if personnel of the service are also mandated to stop cars and vehicles on the highways and advise the passengers to wear the facemasks even if they have taken the second jab.
Though a law had been passed making it illegal for people not to wear facemasks at public places, it will be impossible for the security agency to move from one street to the other, arresting those who fall foul of the law.
In fact, they will not even have the detention centres to keep these suspects. It is for this reason that we think they must also join the campaign in educating the public about the importance of observing the Covid-19 protocols.
Looking at the way the disease is currently wreaking havoc in India, it will be sheer stupidity on our part as Ghanaians to throw caution to the wind and behave as though the disease does not exist.
May God perish our thoughts, but should Ghana experience what India is going through at the moment, our national economy can simply not handle the situation. Since we are a developing country desperately looking for money to tackle our infrastructure deficits, Covid-19 should not be given any leeway to cause more problems for us.
This is the reason why Ghanaians must listen to the sound advice from Dr Kuma-Aboagye and stay safe. The Chronicle reiterates that those taking the second jab should not declare freedom yet, but keep observing the rules.
The post Editorial: Covid-19: beware 2nd jab will not guarantee you 100% immunity – wear your mask appeared first on The Chronicle Online.
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