FDA allay fears of Covishield vaccination: Says benefit far exceeds risk

CEO of Food and Drugs Authority,  Delese Mimi Darko

Information from countries that have deployed millions of the second doses of Covid-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca (Covishield) has shown that side effects reported after the second dose of the jabs were milder with less frequent reports as compared to the aftermath of the first dose. In a statement signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Foods and Drugs Authority, Delese Mimi Darko, it was clear that Ghana’s vaccination programme against covid-19 happens to be the best and most effective way reducing deaths and severe illnesses against the pandemic.

Whilst encouraging the continued use of the vaccine, a joint Vaccine Safety Review Committee set up by the authority is urging those that are scheduled to receive their second dose of Covishield as planned by the Ghana Health Service beginning today May 19,2021 to prepare and take the second jab when the deployment begins. The Committee which has the mandate to review all reported side effects after vaccination held its meeting last Friday to assess reports received based on information currently available from the FDAs safety monitoring activities of Covishield as well as information from international sources.

 As contained in the statement, the joint committee says it was satisfied with its work and would recommend the continued use of the vaccine since the benefits far exceeds any risk the vaccine may pose. It said the authority will continue to monitor the safety of Covishield vaccinations and any other approved vaccine that will be deployed to fight the pandemic.

As of Thursday May 5, 2021, the Expanded Programme on Immunization had administered Eight Hundred and Fifty One Thousand, 647 doses of Covishield vaccine in Ghana with few mild side effects being reported. The common side effects which include pain at the injection site, headache, chills and fever are resolved within a day or two, hence the need for the general public to erase or put at rest any negative thought and misconceptions on the dose.

 

FDA Rel/Kofiasare@rocketmail.com/