Accra, July 3, 2025 — Professor Kofi Bonney, Head of Virology at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, is calling on Ghanaians to renew their commitment to COVID-19 vaccination and booster uptake, warning that new infections are once again being recorded across the country.
In an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Prof. Bonney explained that while the current wave is being driven by a subvariant of the Omicron strain, which is not considered severe, vaccination remains crucial—particularly to prevent severe illness and complications among vulnerable groups.
“The vaccines boost immunity, but the efficacy reduces at a point. So people who have already taken the vaccines must do well to get the boosters to build the immune system,” he stated.
He added that the Ghana Health Service is actively working to secure new vaccine doses, and urged the public to take advantage once they become available.
“Not a New Variant, But Still a Threat”
Prof. Bonney reassured listeners that the current strain is not a novel mutation but a resurgence of the Omicron variant that circulated widely in 2022.
“In 2022, when the cases started reducing, we were fighting the Omicron, and that is what has resurged. So this is not anything new,” he clarified.
While the strain is generally mild in healthy individuals, the elderly, immunocompromised, and those with underlying health conditions remain at high risk, he warned.
Return to Public Health Basics
With the rainy season underway—a period typically marked by a rise in influenza-like and respiratory illnesses—Prof. Bonney advised the public to recommit to preventive health practices.
“Surges in respiratory illnesses are common during the rainy period,” he noted, adding, “We must return to familiar measures: regular handwashing, wearing face masks in crowded areas, and staying home when unwell.”
The virologist’s remarks come as the Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Service intensify public education campaigns and deploy teams to manage localized outbreaks, especially in urban centres and university campuses.
The resurgence of cases and Prof. Bonney’s warning serve as a reminder that COVID-19 is not yet over, and that vigilance remains essential in protecting lives and sustaining national health gains.
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