A nationwide survey conducted by the National Vaccine Institute (NVI) has revealed that only 14.3 percent of Ghanaians are aware of the country’s plans to begin local vaccine production in 2027, highlighting a significant public awareness gap ahead of the initiative’s rollout.
The findings come despite generally high levels of confidence in vaccines among the population and underscore the need for intensified public education to build trust, counter misinformation and encourage public ownership of Ghana’s vaccine manufacturing agenda.
The survey, which covered all 16 regions and 55 districts, analysed 13,905 valid responses. It examined public perceptions of vaccines, barriers to vaccine acceptance and the impact of misinformation on vaccine uptake.
According to a statement signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the NVI, Dr. Sodzi Sodzi-Tettey, the study was conducted to provide evidence-based insights that would guide targeted communication and behaviour-change interventions ahead of the commencement of local vaccine production.
The survey revealed notable regional differences in vaccine acceptance across the country. While urban regions such as Greater Accra, Ashanti and Central had greater access to information, they recorded comparatively lower levels of vaccine acceptance.
In contrast, respondents in rural communities across northern Ghana and regions such as Oti demonstrated stronger trust in vaccines and higher acceptance levels.
“These regional variations underscore the importance of targeted and context-specific communication strategies,” Dr. Sodzi-Tettey stated.
The study also identified several barriers that could affect future vaccine uptake, including concerns about vaccine costs, long travel distances to vaccination centres and weaknesses in vaccine storage and transportation systems, particularly in rural areas.
According to the NVI, operational challenges linked to cold chain infrastructure, the systems used to store and transport vaccines at appropriate temperatures could undermine public confidence if not adequately addressed.
“Operational concerns, especially regarding cold chain systems in rural areas, were also identified as factors that could undermine public confidence at the point of delivery,” Dr. Sodzi-Tettey noted.
He said the findings point to the need for investments in storage facilities, transportation networks and cold chain infrastructure to ensure vaccines remain safe and effective throughout the distribution process.
The NVI further urged relevant stakeholders to strengthen vaccine delivery systems and maintain transparent handling procedures to reinforce public trust in both imported and locally manufactured vaccines.
Dr. Sodzi-Tettey stressed that while Ghana has built a strong foundation of public confidence in vaccines over the years, significant work remains to improve awareness and acceptance of locally produced vaccines.
“What is needed now is targeted policy and communication strategies to address misinformation, cost barriers and regional disparities in order to encourage uptake,” he said.
Ghana is expected to commence local vaccine production in 2027 as part of efforts to improve national health security, reduce dependence on imported vaccines and strengthen the country’s capacity to respond to future disease outbreaks.
The initiative aligns with the African Union’s Partnerships for African Vaccine Manufacturing (PAVM), which aims to ensure that Africa produces at least 60 percent of the vaccines used on the continent by 2040.
Efforts to establish vaccine manufacturing facilities across Africa gained momentum following the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed the continent’s reliance on imported vaccines and vulnerabilities in global supply chains.
Countries including Ghana, Senegal, South Africa and Rwanda are pursuing initiatives to strengthen local vaccine production capacity.
In Ghana, companies such as DEK Vaccines Limited and Atlantic Lifesciences Limited are positioning themselves to support the country’s vaccine manufacturing ambitions and enhance public health preparedness.
