PUBLIC outcry against the H1N1 vaccine appears to be mounting, even as the health authorities try to allay the fears of the public.
The Minister of Health, Dr Benjamin Kunbuor, has personally taken up the crusade to convince the public not to entertain any fear about the safety of the vaccine.
The campaign has taken him to the floor of Parliament and other platforms to drum home support for the efforts of health officials to vaccinate people against the H1N1 influenza.
Media reports indicate a certain level of apprehension for the vaccine following some complications attributed to the vaccination.
There was some panic among the population when the H1N1 influenza was reported to have infected some people, including schoolchildren, leading to the closure of certain schools throughout the country.
In the circumstances, the option available to health authorities was to appeal to the World Health Organisation (WHO) for the vaccines, called Pandemrix.
When the vaccines were made available to the health institutions, many people rushed to those facilities for the vaccines to protect themselves against the disease.
It appears that the health professionals were unable to educate the people who trooped to the hospitals on the influenza which was causing illnesses in people.
Furthermore, public education on the influenza and preventive and corrective steps that must be taken have been limited, leaving those in need of help to rely on hearsay.
We think all hope is not lost yet, as media and public concerns have forced the health authorities to step up their actions to obtain the co-operation of the public.
The DAILY GRAPHIC is happy that the Ministry of Health has instructed all health staff involved in the vaccination to follow strictly the inclusion and exclusion criteria and procedures before and after the vaccination.
We call on the health authorities to step up public education on the flu so that the people can take precautionary measures to prevent infection and assure them that even if they are infected, they can act fast to avoid any danger.
Presently, we even wonder if majority of our people know that the symptoms of the flu virus include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body ache, headache, chills and fatigue. It is even said that some people may vomit and have diarrhoea.
The flu can also be spread from person to person through coughing, sneezing or talking to people with the influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something such as a surface or an object with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouths or noses.
The health professionals should advise those who are not eligible for the vaccination not to go for it, while the adverse effects of the vaccination should be made known to those who are vaccinated.
It is also important for health professionals to educate the people on the services they offer. For instance, it is necessary to tell the people to cover their noses and mouths with tissues when they cough or sneeze.
During this period of the flu, it is advisable for people to often wash their hands with soap and water. Indeed, often washing one’s hands will help prevent any infection.
The DAILY GRAPHIC reiterates its call on health professionals to work extra hard in order to gain public acceptance of the vaccines.
The H1N1 will not go away if the people refuse to take the vaccination for fear of its adverse effects.
We need to allay the fears of the people and encourage them to take advantage of the exercise to keep society hale and hearty.
The DAILY GRAPHIC also appeals to the public to co-operate with health officials to ensure the success of the vaccination exercise.
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