The Ghana Medical Association has said the shortage of vaccines in the country is dangerous to childhood health care delivery in Ghana.

Dr Paa Kwasi Baidoo the President of the Ashanti Regional branch of Ghana Medical Association In an interview with Sompa News, said the widespread shortage of some vaccines used for routine immunization of babies from birth to at least 18 months has the potential to increase the vulnerability of children to the diseases the vaccines seek to protect them against.

He said Vaccines against polio, hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenza type B (DPT/Hep B/ Hib 1) and six infectious diseases that are particularly dangerous to babies are also among those short in supply.

He disclosed that Stakeholders in the health sector have expressed the fear that the shortage would cause the country to derail life-saving gains made with the introduction of immunization in the country.

Data available to the GHS indicate that there has been a significant fall in morbidity rates of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles and poliomyelitis.

Gains made in immunization coverage and outcomes may not be sustainable if domestic funding for immunization remains limited.

Source: Ghana/Sompaonline.com/Nana Yaw Boamah