Ghana has taken a bold and strategic step toward financing its own vaccine supplies and safeguarding public health as it prepares to transition from support by the Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance by 2030.
The transition marks a defining moment in the country’s journey toward vaccine sustainability, sovereignty, and long-term health security.
As part of this effort, a National Vaccine Perception Survey has been launched to strengthen public engagement and ensure that locally manufactured vaccines are trusted and widely accepted.
The initiative, spearheaded by the National Vaccine Institute (NVI), seeks to generate evidence-based insights rooted in community realities. The goal is to ensure that Made-in-Ghana vaccines not only meet the highest standards of quality and safety but also inspire confidence among the public.
The survey is being conducted in 55 districts across all 16 regions of Ghana and will run for two months, from February 16 to March 10, 2026.
It will collect quantitative data from 11,077 respondents through structured interviews using random sampling techniques. In addition, seven focus group discussions will be held in strategically selected districts to gather qualitative insights.
The study aims to assess public attitudes toward vaccines, identify drivers of confidence, examine barriers to acceptance of locally manufactured vaccines, and map misinformation trends that may undermine vaccine uptake.
By combining quantitative data—such as prevalence rates and demographic patterns—with qualitative insights into belief systems and trusted sources of information, the survey will enable geographically tailored and evidence-driven interventions.
Conducting the research across all 16 regions ensures that policies reflect Ghana’s diversity and address the realities of both high-confidence and high-hesitancy communities.
The findings are expected to inform national communication strategies, identify trusted messengers for the Made-in-Ghana vaccine rollout, and distinguish between attitudinal hesitancy and structural barriers, enabling targeted interventions.
The survey will also establish a national baseline for vaccine confidence by region and demographic group, assess the misinformation landscape, and examine the influence of approval by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) on vaccine acceptance.
The National Vaccine Institute is appealing to residents in the 55 selected districts to actively support the research process. Participation is voluntary, and all information collected will remain strictly confidential.
Chief Executive Officer of the NVI, Dr. Sodzi Sodzi-Tettey, emphasized that the exercise is centered on listening and learning.
“This is not a sales pitch. We genuinely want to listen and understand. The information provided is strictly confidential. Together, we will build vaccine confidence that protects every Ghanaian,” he stated.
He further noted that Ghana has long been a leader in immunization efforts in West Africa, built on public trust in health workers and vaccines.
“As we begin manufacturing our own vaccines, we must carry that legacy forward through transparency, engagement, and meaningful dialogue with communities,” he added.
With this initiative, Ghana is aligning its vaccine manufacturing ambitions with public acceptance, reinforcing health security, and laying the foundation for sustained trust in its immunization programmes.
