At long last the wait is over for the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine recipients as the Greater Accra Regional Health Directorate announces that the second dose of the vaccine will commence on 31st August, 2021 and end on 4th September, 2021.
The exercise according to a press release signed by Dr. (Mrs.) Charity Sarpong will target “people above 18 years who received their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine from 10th March, 2021 to 29th March 2021”.
This is expected to bring some relief to the many people who received the first dose more than 20weeks ago. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a gap of 8-12 weeks between the first and second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
However, a study by researchers from University of Oxford in the United Kingdom which is yet to be peer reviewed, reports that a gap period of 45 weeks induces better immune responses when compared with the recommended interval.
As of 27th, August, 2021, Ghana had recorded a total of 116,441 cases of Covid-19 and 991 deaths with over 1.27million doses of Covid-19 vaccines administered.
The AstraZeneca vaccine
The AstraZeneca vaccine is made from an attenuated adenovirus (the cold virus) taken from Chimpanzee and once it is administered into the body, primes the body’s immune system to fight against future SARS-Cov-2 infection. It is 63.09% efficacious against symptomatic covid-19 infection but its effect on the delta variant of SARS-Cov-2 is still been studied. A minimum of two consecutive doses of the vaccine is required for full and lasting immunity to be achieved.
Like many vaccines, AstraZeneca may produce adverse effects such as headache, fever, myalgia, fatigue and cold-like symptoms which usually resolves in 48hours. It is advised that symptoms that persists over 48hours should be reported immediately.
Covid-19 prevention protocols
The release further admonished members of the general public “to adhere to all the COVID-19 safety protocols, especially the appropriate wearing of face masks and strict social distancing measures, whilst at the vaccination centers”.
Kwame Sherrif Awiagah
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