By Stuart Bogere

KIU, Main Campus - Ghana had received the world’s 600,000 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines from the United Nations backed COVAX Initiative. 

According to Henrietta Fore Executive Director of UNICEF, the COVAX facility is to ensure people from less wealthy countries are not left behind in the race for life-saving vaccines.

The World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom, Ghebreyesus said "we will not end the pandemic anywhere unless it is ended everywhere". In his remarks, "Today is a major first step towards realizing our shared vision of vaccine equity, but it's just the beginning." 

In a statement from Ghana's Ministry of Information, "The vaccines will be first administered to health workers, people over 60, and those with underlying health conditions." They also plan to secure additional vaccines through external agencies.

COVAX is an international coalition put in place to give equal access to the vaccine to all countries. Wealthier nations have, in the past, been accused of "hoarding" vaccines and leaving African countries behind in the race to inoculate their populations.