By Jones Anlimah
A nationwide vaccine perception survey conducted by the National Vaccine Institute, NVI, has revealed strong public confidence in vaccines and growing support for Ghana’s planned local vaccine manufacturing initiative expected to begin in 2027.
The survey, which covered all 16 regions and 55 districts, analysed 13,905 valid responses, making it one of the most extensive national studies on public attitudes toward vaccines and locally manufactured health products in Ghana.
According to the findings, about 89.7 percent of respondents expressed confidence in vaccines, while 94.2 percent indicated a collective responsibility toward ensuring vaccine availability in the country.
The study further revealed that 71.3 percent of respondents are willing to accept and use vaccines manufactured in Ghana once production begins.
The survey also recorded high levels of trust in healthcare professionals and regulatory institutions. About 87.8 percent of respondents said they trust doctors and nurses who administer vaccines, while many also expressed confidence in the Ghana Health Service and the Food and Drugs Authority.
The NVI says the findings provide a strong foundation for Ghana’s vaccine manufacturing agenda and position healthcare workers as key advocates in building confidence in locally produced vaccines.
Despite the positive outlook, the survey revealed low public awareness regarding Ghana’s local vaccine manufacturing plans. Only 14.3 percent of respondents were aware that the country is building local vaccine production capacity ahead of the planned 2027 rollout.
The Institute says the findings underscore the need for intensified nationwide public education campaigns to address misinformation and encourage public ownership of the initiative.
The study also identified regional differences in vaccine acceptance. Urbanised regions including Greater Accra, Central and Ashanti recorded comparatively lower vaccine acceptance levels despite greater access to information, while some rural communities in northern Ghana and the Oti Region showed stronger trust and acceptance of vaccines.
Researchers say the findings highlight the need for targeted and context-specific communication strategies.
The survey further revealed strong national pride among respondents, many of whom indicated that seeing Ghanaian scientists and local factories involved in vaccine production would increase their confidence in Ghana-made vaccines.
However, concerns about vaccine costs, distance to vaccination centres, and storage and transportation systems, particularly cold chain infrastructure in rural communities, were identified as potential barriers to vaccine uptake.
The NVI says it plans to roll out a nationwide awareness and acceptance campaign involving government agencies, healthcare professionals, civil society organisations, development partners, community leaders, the private sector and the media.
Chief Executive Officer of the NVI, Dr. Sodzi Sodzi-Tettey, said Ghana already has a strong foundation of vaccine confidence but stressed that success would depend on bridging the awareness and trust gap regarding locally manufactured vaccines.
He said targeted policy interventions and communication strategies would be necessary to address misinformation, cost barriers and regional disparities to encourage vaccine uptake.
The survey comes at a time when Ghana’s pharmaceutical sector is transitioning toward vaccine self-sufficiency as part of broader efforts to strengthen health security, industrial growth and scientific innovation.
The initiative also aligns with the African Union’s Partnerships for African Vaccine Manufacturing vision, which seeks to ensure that at least 60 percent of vaccines used on the continent are produced locally by 2040.
