A national vaccine perception survey has revealed strong public confidence in vaccines among Ghanaians, effectively challenging the perception of widespread hesitancy.
Findings of the survey conducted by the National Vaccine Institute (NVI) show that Ghanaians largely regard vaccines as life-saving interventions.
The survey also highlights growing national pride and willingness among citizens to support locally manufactured vaccines once production begins in 2027.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the NVI, Dr Sodzi Sodzi-Tettey, disclosed this in Accra last Friday and said the study covered all the 16 regions and 55 districts.
He said 13,905 valid responses were analysed, making the findings one of the most comprehensive national assessments of public attitudes towards vaccines and locally manufactured health products.
The research assessed public perceptions of vaccines, examined drivers of confidence, identified barriers to acceptance of locally manufactured vaccines, and analysed misinformation trends affecting vaccine uptake.
The findings provide an evidence-based foundation for targeted public education and behaviour-change interventions ahead of the country’s planned local vaccine production.
Confidence
“Majority of the respondents (89.7 per cent) expressed confidence in vaccines and 71.3 per cent demonstrated willingness to accept and use vaccines manufactured in Ghana,” Dr Sodzi-Tettey said.
Explaining, he said the findings indicated that more than seven out of every 10 respondents were ready to embrace Made-in-Ghana vaccines once they became available.
The study also revealed exceptionally high trust in healthcare professionals and national regulatory institutions.
“About 87.8 per cent of respondents indicated trust in doctors and nurses who administer vaccines, while many also expressed confidence in the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA),” the CEO stated.
Dr Sodzi-Tettey explained that the strong institutional trust provided a solid foundation for the country’s vaccine manufacturing agenda and positioned healthcare workers as key advocates in building public confidence in locally produced vaccines.
Low awareness
The CEO of the NVI said in spite of the positive outlook on vaccines, the survey revealed critically low public awareness regarding the country’s local vaccine manufacturing agenda.
“Only 14.3 per cent of respondents were aware that Ghana is building local vaccine manufacturing capacity ahead of the planned 2027 launch and this highlights the urgent need for intensive nationwide awareness campaigns to educate the public about the manufacturing efforts, address misinformation, and encourage public ownership of the initiative,” Dr Sodzi-Tettey said.
The study also identified key barriers that could affect vaccine uptake, including the cost of vaccines, distance to vaccination centres and concerns about vaccine storage and transportation systems.
Dr Sodzi-Tettey said the NVI had plans to roll out a nationwide awareness and acceptance campaign aimed at educating the public on locally manufactured vaccines, addressing misinformation, and promoting national buy-in.
The campaign is expected to involve government institutions, development partners, healthcare professionals, civil society organisations, community leaders, the private sector, and the media, all of whom will play important roles in shaping public perception and building confidence in Ghana-made vaccines.
“Ghana has a strong foundation of vaccine confidence, but success depends on bridging the awareness and trust gap for locally manufactured 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 emphasised.
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