On the 29th of September 2021, the department of Social Welfare and Community Development in collaboration with the Municipal Health Directorate organized Persons with Disability (PWDs) within the Municipality for the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine against Covid-19.
Prior to the exercise, the PWDs were educated on the importance of Vaccination in general, as well as the Covid-19 vaccine. They were informed that,, like all vaccinations, the COVID 19 vaccine is capable of causing side effects to some individuals after its intake. This,, after the injection, they may experience some mild-to-moderate side effects that people often encounter after any vaccination. Having a painful, heavy feeling and tenderness in the arm where you had your injection, headache or muscle ache. joint pain, chills, nausea or vomiting, feeling tired, fever. They indicated that all these side effects were normal . However, they were encouraged to report to the nearest health centers for medical attention should the effects persist after several days.
During the presentation, it was made known that the category of people qualified to take the Vaccine are adults aged 18yrs and above excluding pregnant women as well as lactating mothers. The health personnel further explained that, two injections are needed to be adequately protected hence the vaccinated persons were asked to come back in 8weeks time for the second dose of injection. They were also cautioned that having the Vaccination did not mean they cannot contract Covid-19 again but rather, the Vaccination serves as an immune system booster should one contract COVID-19 as it will minimize the effects of the virus on the individual.
As the exercise progressed, the Head of department of social welfare and community development, Madam Christiana Tamakloe took the opportunity to sensitized the PWDs again on the social interventions available for PWDs especially the NHIS registration. Officers present compiled a list of all the PWDs who were present at the time and whose NHIS cards were expired or active as well as those who did not have NHIS cards at all for upwards facilitation for their renewal or registration.
It was however observed that 74 PWDs availed themselves for the Vaccination, however only 56 PWDs were vaccinated thus, 19 females and 37 males. The remaining 19 are scheduled to come for their jab on Monday, 4th October, 2021.
Between the presentations, a segment for questions and answers was offered to people to voice out concerns so of the PWDs wanted to know if subsequent vaccinations the health personnel could move into the communities since coming to the Assembly was financially challenging to them. To answer their question, they were told that those who had vaccination centers near their communities could take their shots there instead of travelling all the way to the Assembly grounds.
