The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has refuted reports suggesting that Sputnik-V and AstraZeneca vaccines are not effective against the Delta strain of SARS-Cov-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19).
The Health Service described the reports as “untrue”
The Head of West Africa Center for Cell Biology and Infectious Pathogens, Professor Gordon Awendare in confirming the presence of the new variant in the country, cautioned the public to take seriously, the COVID-19 protocol adding that ‘Delta’ variant AstraZeneca and Sputnik V cannot fight it, although taking them will keep you ‘somehow’ immune to the new strain.
However, GHS has debunked the assertion saying “On the issue of vaccines, reports that Sputnik-V and AstraZeneca vaccines are not effective against the Delta strain of SARS-Cov-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) are untrue”.
The statement from the Ghana Health Service explained that Public Health England (PHE) has confirmed two doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine are highly effective against hospitalisation due to the Delta variant, while no deaths have been recorded among those vaccinated.
It said data also suggest that the AstraZeneca vaccine is effective against symptomatic disease caused by the Delta variant.
“A study conducted by Gamaleya Center suggests that, Sputnik-V is more efficient against the Delta variant of coronavirus, first detected in India, compared to other COVID-19 vaccines”.
On the issue of reported shortage of vaccines, GHS noted that “in the midst of global supply shortages, the MOH and GHS are diligently working with Government to ensure that adequate vaccines are procured to protect the population. The MOH, GHS and the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) are working collaboratively to ensure that vaccines that come into the country are safe and effective”.
The Service would like to urge Ghanaians to take advantage of vaccination when their turn is due while entreating the general public to adhere to the COVID-19 prevention protocols i.e., wearing of face masks, practicing of hand hygiene and physical distancing as part of the strategies, the statement from Ghana Health Service concluded.
For Immediate Release
PRESS RELEASE
Re: Covid-19: Deadly Indian strain detected in Ghana; Sputnik V, AstraZeneca vaccines not effective against it
The Ministry of Health (MoH) and Ghana Health Service (GHS) take note of a publication by myjoyonline.com on 21″ June 2021 with the headline “Covid-19: Deadly Indian strain detected in Ghana; Sputnik V, AstraZeneca vaccines not effective against it”.
The Service, hereby, informs the general public that:
- All passengers who test positive at Kotoka International Airport (KIA) are put under mandatory isolation
- All positive samples are sent for further testing (genomic sequencing) to identify the variants 3. Variants sequenced from samples of positive cases at the Airport do not necessarily end up in the community.
- As of now, the country has detected six Delta variants of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19 virus) from all samples taken between April and June, 2021 at the ports of entry. No Delta variant has been detected from samples taken from cases in the community.
The MOH and GHS further inform the general public that the in April 2021, there was a surge in cases at the airport during which period 308 positives were identified. However, Ghana has not experienced a third wave partly due to the robust surveillance system in place at the ports of entry and strict isolation of all cases detected.
On the issue of vaccines, reports that Sputnik-V and AstraZeneca vaccines are not effective against the Delta strain of SARS-Cov-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) are untrue.
According to Public Health England (PHE) two doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine are highly effective against hospitalisation due to the Delta variant and showed no deaths among those vaccinated. The data also suggest that the AstraZeneca vaccine is effective against symptomatic disease caused by the Delta variant.
A study conducted by Gamaleya Center suggests that, Sputnik-V is more efficient against the Delta variant of coronavirus, first detected in India, compared to other COVID-19 vaccines.
It must be noted that in the midst of global supply shortages, the MOH and GHS are diligently working with Government to ensure that adequate vaccines are procured to protect the population. The MOH, GHS and the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) are working collaboratively to ensure that vaccines that come into the country are safe and effective.
The Service would like to urge Ghanaians to take advantage of vaccination when their turn is due while entreating the general public to adhere to the COVID-19 prevention protocols i.e., wearing of face masks, practicing of hand hygiene and physical distancing as part of the strategies.
Signed
DR. PATRICK KUMA-ABOAGYE DIRECTOR-GENERAL GHANA HEALTH SERVICE
