Story by, Paul Mensah Nsor
Ghanaians have high confidence in vaccines and are largely ready to support locally manufactured vaccines when production begins in 2027, according to a nationwide survey released by the National Vaccine Institute (NVI).
The Vaccine Perception Survey, conducted across all 16 regions and 55 districts, analysed 13,905 valid responses and challenges the notion of widespread vaccine hesitancy in the country.
Findings show that 89.7% of respondents expressed confidence in vaccines, while 94.2% said they felt a collective responsibility to ensure vaccine availability. Some 71.3% said they would be willing to accept and use vaccines made in Ghana.
“These findings indicate that more than seven out of every ten respondents are ready to embrace Made-in-Ghana vaccines once they become available,” the report stated.
The study also revealed strong trust in the country’s health system. About 87.8% of respondents said they trust doctors and nurses who administer vaccines, with similar confidence expressed in the Ghana Health Service and the Food and Drugs Authority.
The NVI said this trust provides a solid base for Ghana’s vaccine manufacturing agenda and positions healthcare workers as key advocates for public confidence in locally produced vaccines.
Low Awareness of Manufacturing Plans
Despite the positive outlook, awareness of Ghana’s plan to produce vaccines locally remains low. Only 14.3% of respondents said they knew Ghana was building local vaccine manufacturing capacity ahead of the planned 2027 launch.
The NVI said the gap highlights the need for intensive nationwide awareness campaigns to educate the public, address misinformation, and encourage ownership of the initiative.
The survey also found regional variations in acceptance. Urbanised regions such as Greater Accra, Central, and Ashanti recorded comparatively lower vaccine acceptance despite higher access to information, while rural communities in northern Ghana and the Oti Region showed stronger trust and acceptance.
Respondents expressed strong national pride and willingness to support local production, with many saying the involvement of Ghanaian scientists and local factories would increase their confidence in Ghana-made vaccines.
However, the study identified barriers that could affect uptake, including cost, distance to vaccination centres, and concerns about storage and transportation. Operational issues around cold chain systems in rural areas were flagged as potential threats to public confidence at the point of delivery.
The NVI said it would work with stakeholders to strengthen cold chain infrastructure, improve storage and transportation systems, and ensure transparent handling protocols.
As Ghana moves toward local vaccine production, the NVI plans to roll out a nationwide awareness and acceptance campaign. The campaign will involve government institutions, development partners, healthcare professionals, civil society, community leaders, the private sector, and the media.
“Ghana has a strong foundation of vaccine confidence, but success depends on bridging the awareness and trust gap for locally manufactured vaccines,” said Dr. Sodzi Sodzi-Tettey, CEO of the NVI. “What is needed now is targeted policy and communication strategies to address misinformation, cost barriers, and regional disparities in order to encourage uptake.”
Dr. Sodzi-Tettey thanked the Ghana Health Service, FDA, and WHO for their support to the Institute.
The NVI said the findings provide baseline data to help government and partners design behaviour-change interventions, prepare messaging strategies, and anticipate misinformation ahead of the 2027 launch.
Local vaccine manufacturing is seen as a major step in Ghana’s pharmaceutical innovation, industrial growth, and health security agenda, and contributes to the African Union’s target to produce 60% of Africa’s vaccines locally by 2040.
“Ghana now stands at a historic turning point in its public health and industrial development journey,” the report concluded. “With sustained public education, strong stakeholder collaboration, transparent regulation, and national commitment, Ghana has the opportunity to become a leading example of vaccine confidence and local pharmaceutical innovation on the African continent.”
