DON'T PURCHASE UNAPPROVED COVID-19 VACCINE-FDA CAUTIONS PUBLIC

The Food and Drugs Authority has urged the general public to desist from buying any COVID-19 vaccine from health facilities.

According to the Authority, its attention has been drawn to the fact that "some unscrupulous members of the business community are peddling information on the sale of COVID-19 vaccines to hospitals and other health facilities".

"The information is ostensibly to inform the general public of the availability of these vaccines from well known pharmaceutical brands indicating their price ranges," a statement from the Authority noted.

Currently, countries like the United States of America and the United Kingdom have begun trials of the use of COVID-19 vaccines to curb the spread of the virus.

Although President Akufo-Addo has promised that Ghana won't be left out in accessing the approved vaccines, the government has not yet approved any vaccine.

It is for this reason that the FDA is cautioning against the patronage of illegal vaccines already surfacing in some health facilities.

"The general public is hereby cautioned against the patronage of such vaccines since the FDA has not yet approved any COVID-19 vaccine for use in Ghana. In view of the above, the FDA wishes to inform all health facilities and the general public that, peddling of such information contravenes Section 118 of the Public Health Act 2012, Act 851 and constitutes a very serious offence."

The statement further stressed that "anyone caught dealing with unregistered COVID-19 vaccine will be sanctioned in accordance with the provisions of Section 129 of Act 851, which includes a fine of up to GHC180,000 or to a term of imprisonment of up to 25 years or both".

Ellen Dapaah

 January 13, 2021

Source:Citi Business News