The Central Regional Director of Health, Dr Akosua Owusu-Sarpong, has stated that the COVID-19 vaccine does not cause erectile dysfunction among males.

Giving an assurance to persons who will be taking the vaccine, Dr Owusu-Sarpong said men should be rest assured that the vaccines would not cause erectile problems.

At the launch of the vaccination in the Central Region in Cape Coast last Monday, Dr Owusu-Sarpong said there had been documented evidence of the vaccine's safety and efficacy, adding that it had the ability to generate appropriate immune response to fight the virus.

She said there were, however, some known side effects that did not affect everyone, such as fever and feeling unwell for about one or two days after which it dissipated.

Foreigners included

She said foreigners in the catchment areas would also qualify to be vaccinated, adding that the aim of the vaccination exercise was to reduce the spread of the disease and everybody in the catchment area would be vaccinated.

Dr Owusu-Sarpong said the effect of COVID-19 on businesses had been immense and it was important for all to make themselves available to be vaccinated as the country worked to curb its spread.

Target

The Deputy Director in charge of Public Health, Dr Godfred Kwabena Sarpong, said 10,290 people in two districts — Awutu Senya and Awutu Senya East, excluding persons under 18 and pregnant mothers, had been targeted to be vaccinated in the exercise.

He explained that the two districts had been chosen because they were the high disease burden areas and epicentres in the region.

He said outreach points outside the health facilities and mobile teams would be deployed for the exercise.

Dispel myths

He also urged Ghanaians to dispel myths, fears and the misinformation, saying it was because it was safe that notable personalities, including the President, had taken the shots.

"The vaccine is safe. We have looked at the data around it. It is effective, economical and we have the resources to deploy it across the country," he stated.

He said the Ghana Health Service had taken the necessary precautions and strict monitoring to ensure persons who reacted adversely to the vaccines were promptly attended to.

The Chief Director of the Central Regional Coordinating Council, Mr Kingsley Adjei Boahen, commended the government for the efforts to get the vaccines.

He appealed to all in the exercise area to get vaccinated to reduce the spread of the disease.