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SONA2022: Ghana to start first phase of commercial vaccine production in Jan. 2024 – Akufo-Addo

By Justice Kofi Bimpeh
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President Akufo-Addo says the first phase of local commercial vaccine production will start in January 2024.

Delivering his 2022 State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Wednesday, March 30 in Parliament he said a Bill will shortly be sent to the legislature for support and approval for the establishment of the National Vaccine Institute.

He said “The management of our Covid-19 has been exemplary. By the grace of the almighty, we have saved lives.”

He added “I took the decision we would prioritize the saving of lives, and, then, we would get together to rebuild our economy. Nobody imagined the devastation would be so widespread and last so long.

“We had to learn some very hard lessons, and our belief in the need to be self-sufficient was reinforced when vaccine nationalism was played out blatantly by the rich and powerful countries.”

“Mr Speaker, the Presidential Vaccine Manufacturing Committee, which I set up to respond to this obvious deficiency, has put in place a comprehensive strategy for domestic vaccine production, and the establishment of a National Vaccine Institute to implement the strategy, which will enable us to begin the first phase of commercial production in January 2024.

“A Bill will shortly be brought to you, in this House, for your support and approval for the establishment of the National Vaccine Institute.

“This pandemic exposed other shortcomings of our country, which have, undoubtedly, contributed to the anxieties that have befallen the nation. Agenda 111 was born out of this necessity to address some of these shortcomings. At the normal rate of growth, we are not likely to make up the deficit in our health facilities infrastructure for a very long time. Hence, the need for a special, dedicated programme of infrastructural development.”