The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has reaffirmed its dedication to monitoring the protection of all vaccines utilized in Ghana, together with COVID-19 vaccines.
The FDA says that the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for AstraZeneca vaccines which expired in May 2023, coincided with the World Health Organization itemizing COVID-19 as not a world public well being emergency concern.
In a press release issued on Tuesday, May 21, the FDA stated regardless of the worldwide suspension of AstraZeneca vaccine manufacturing as a result of improvement of latest vaccines for rising COVID-19 strains, it stays vigilant in making certain the protection of all vaccines administered within the nation.
“Despite this, the FDA remains vigilant in monitoring the safety of all vaccines used in Ghana, including COVID-19 vaccines, through its Safety Monitoring Department and its Technical Advisory Committee on Safety of Vaccines and Biological Products,” a part of the assertion stated.
The Authority stated that in the course of the pandemic, the Joint COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Review Committee (JCVSRC), established by the FDA, labored with the Ghana Health Service Expanded Programme on Immunization to supervise vaccine security.
The FDA stated that the committee additionally monitored international stories, together with these associated to Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS), a uncommon situation linked to adenoviral COVID-19 vaccines like AstraZeneca’s Vaxzevria and the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine.
“Symptoms seem between 4 and 42 days after vaccination. The estimated danger of TTS after the primary dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine is about 2 per 100,000 folks vaccinated, with increased charges in people underneath 60. The danger decreases after the second dose.
“As of the end of March 2024, 10,545,038 people in Ghana had received the AstraZeneca vaccine. The FDA investigated 4,149 reported adverse events following immunization (AEFIs), and thrombosis with TTS was not among them,” the FDA stated.
The Authority subsequently assured the general public of its dedication to the continual and proactive monitoring of all regulated merchandise to make sure they continue to be protected, efficient, and of top quality.
“Should any product present an unacceptable risk, the FDA will take swift regulatory action to safeguard public health,” the assertion added.
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