Ghana’s Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) protects children against diseases like tuberculosis, polio, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, hepatitis B, pneumococcal disease, rotavirus and measles; most of it delivered free at public health facilities. BCG and the first polio dose are given at birth, with further rounds at 6, 10 and 14 weeks, and measles and yellow fever vaccines at 9 months.
Missing or delaying a dose doesn’t just leave your child unprotected during that window; it also narrows the population-wide immunity that keeps outbreaks from spreading in the community. A child who falls behind can usually catch up; the important thing is not skipping the schedule altogether.
Bring your child’s health record book to every visit so our paediatric team can confirm exactly which doses are due. If you’re unsure of your child’s vaccination status, our paediatrics team can help you check and catch up.
Photo: Kwameghana, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
