Rabies Vaccine Runs Out

RABIES VACCINES in the country have run out for about six months according to reports reaching DAILY GUIDE .

Rabies is a serious disease caused by a neurotropic virus. It is mainly a disease of animals. Humans get rabies when they are bitten by infected animals and it is fatal in most cases.

Unavailability of the vaccine has compelled hospitals and pharmaceutical outlets to sell them at exorbitant prices. 

Those who are unable to afford it are left to their fate as they are turned away by helpless health officers who can do little about the situation.

An aggrieved woman narrated to the paper the ordeal she went through to get vaccines for her two cousins aged six and four after they were bitten by a stray dog.

She said the children were first taken to the La Veterinary Hospital for treatment but referred to Korle-Bu Polyclinic to be vaccinated as the veterinary had none available. 

'When we got there we were informed they had no vaccines and promptly directed us to a pharmaceutical outlet close by.'

She said to her utter dismay, she was told she had to buy it   for GH¢120 per dose.  

'I needed two five-course doses for the two children and we were supposed to pay GH¢1,200. We didn't have the money so we went back to the vet and were directed to the Adabraka Polyclinic where we finally got everything for the children at GH¢340.'

Comfort said the situation worsened the already poor financial situation of the family as they had no choice but to buy the vaccines at that price in order to save the lives of her cousins.

'We went round and round before we got the vaccines for the children,' she said.

A visit by the paper to Adabraka Polyclinic where Comfort finally got the vaccines confirmed reports about the shortage.

A health official at the facility who gave his name only as Lord told the paper the hospital has not been supplied with   vaccines for close to six months now.

'We have to buy them elsewhere because we have not been supplied with the vaccines which costs GH¢150 each.'

He said the high cost involved was because of the delicate storage requirement needed for the vaccine to be effective.

Commenting on the issue, Dr. Obeng Apori, Medical Director at Ridge Regional Hospital said under normal circumstances the vaccine is not supposed to be sold.  

By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri