Ghana has launched a nationwide survey to assess public confidence in vaccines as the country prepares to manufacture its own vaccines and transition from support by the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) by 2030.
The survey, being conducted by the National Vaccine Institute (NVI), is aimed at nurturing vaccine confidence and ensuring that locally produced vaccines are trusted and widely accepted.
The NVI led National Vaccine Perception Survey is being conducted across 55 districts in all 16 regions of the country.
According to a statement dated February 19 issued and signed by Chief Executive Officer of the NVI, Dr. Sodzi Sodzi-Tettey, the survey will run for two months, from February 16 to March 10, 2026, and will gather data from 11,077 respondents through structured interviews using random sampling methods. In addition, seven focus group discussions will be held in strategically selected districts to capture qualitative insights.
As the country gradually moves away from external vaccine support, officials say building public trust will be critical to the success of the “Made-in-Ghana” vaccine agenda.
The study seeks to assess public attitudes toward vaccines, identify drivers of confidence, examine barriers to acceptance of locally manufactured vaccines, and map misinformation trends that undermine vaccine uptake.
The survey which combines quantitative data — including prevalence and demographic trends — with qualitative insights into belief systems and trusted community voices, the survey aims to inform geographically tailored, evidence-driven interventions.
“Vaccine confidence varies significantly across regions,” the NVI noted in a press release. “Parts of Northern Ghana report higher levels of hesitancy, while urban areas face different misinformation dynamics. Nationwide coverage ensures policies reflect Ghana’s diversity.”
Approximately 200 respondents per district are being sampled to provide sufficient statistical power for district-level estimates and regional comparisons.
District selection was guided by regional representation, geographic diversity, variations in vaccine hesitancy levels, strategic relevance for the local vaccine rollout, and accessibility for safe fieldwork.
Findings from the survey are expected to inform communication strategies for the Made-in-Ghana vaccine rollout,identify trusted messengers within communities,distinguish between attitudinal hesitancy and structural barriers,guide region-specific and demographic-specific messaging,establish a national baseline for vaccine confidence
and assess the influence of approval by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) on vaccine acceptance
The results will also help align Ghana’s vaccine manufacturing capacity with public acceptance as the country strengthens its health security systems.
Chief Executive Officer of the NVI, Dr. Sodzi Sodzi-Tettey, stressed that the exercise is about listening to communities rather than promoting a product.
“This is not a sales pitch. We genuinely want to listen and understand. The information provided is strictly confidential. Together, we build vaccine confidence that protects every Ghanaian,” he said.
Dr. Sodzi-Tettey added that Ghana’s longstanding reputation as a leader in immunization in West Africa must be preserved as the country begins producing its own vaccines.
“Local vaccines must inspire confidence to succeed. Ghana has long been a leader in immunization in West Africa, built on trust in health workers and vaccines. As we begin manufacturing our own vaccines, we must carry that legacy forward through transparency, engagement, and listening to communities,” he noted.
The National Vaccine Institute is appealing to residents in the selected districts to actively participate in the survey, assuring them that participation is voluntary and that all information collected will remain strictly confidential.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
