The Ministry of Health in Ghana has initiated a vaccination campaign in response to the confirmed outbreak of yellow fever in Western Equatoria State. The outbreak, which was identified on 24 December 2023, has seen 48 suspected and two confirmed cases reported in various counties of the state.
The campaign, which is being carried out in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and other partners, aims to prevent the spread of the disease by vaccinating approximately 610,000 individuals aged nine months to 65 years in the affected areas. The vaccinations have been secured from the Global emergency yellow fever vaccine stockpile of the International Coordination Group (ICG) on Vaccine Provision, with funding support from Gavi.
The outbreak has prompted a multidisciplinary team of health experts to conduct a thorough epidemiological investigation to understand the extent of the outbreak, identify risk factors, and implement control and prevention measures. The yellow fever vaccination campaign aligns with the global strategy to Eliminate Yellow Fever Epidemics (EYE) by 2026, and it aims to protect populations at high risk.
It is crucial to stop the outbreak and prevent further infections as yellow fever poses a significant public health threat. The disease, which is transmitted by infected mosquitoes, can lead to severe complications and a high mortality rate. With the deployment of vaccines, supplies, equipment, trained health workers, and sensitized communities, the aim is to protect the affected children and communities. The vaccination campaign is a reactive measure to halt the spread of the disease and acts as a bridge towards integrating the yellow fever vaccine into routine immunization systems.
The initiative has been met with urgency and determination to address the outbreak and ensure the health and safety of the population. This response underscores the collaborative efforts made by the Ministry of Health, the WHO, UNICEF, and other partners to mitigate the impact of the yellow fever outbreak in Western Equatoria State.
