Ghana’s program manager for the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Kwame Amponsa-Akyianu has made it known that protection against the Covid-19 virus may begin two weeks after vaccination.
In response to questions raised as to the efficacy of the vaccines after immunization, Mr. Amponsa-Akyianu explained that most vaccines take time in teaching the immune system how to respond to, and protect the body against infections and that the covid-19 vaccines are no different.
“The protection will start in about two weeks, it could also be three weeks. There’s always a lag period of time before protection begins. After you are injected, the vaccines teach your immune system how to respond to the Coronavirus and this will happens over a period of time, say about two weeks. This is so for most vaccines. It takes sometime”.
Speaking to Sammy Eshun on the Happy morning Show on e.TV Ghana and Happy98.9FM, he added that there is the possibility of individuals contracting the virus within the first few weeks after vaccination.
“It is possible to still contract the virus even after vaccination. You have to start at a point because for all vaccines, the results cannot be immediate, unless there is the application of some special kind of drug called hemoglobin which leaves the body immediately. But with every vaccine, it needs time to teach your body”.
He further stated that the jab when taken by infected persons may reduce the risk of a severe illness. According to him, it has not been determined whether the vaccines prevent transmission. But scientists have stated its likelihood to reduce transmission.
“But for now, what we know for sure is that the vaccine reduces chances of infected persons becoming ill. There is a huge difference between being infected and being ill. There have been some publications in the United Kingdom and several countries which state that chances of one being infected with severe illnesses is reduced by more than 90 percent. It is very clear and we’re happy about it.”
By: Belinda Baaba Baidoo