A national vaccine perception survey conducted by the National Vaccine Institute (NVI) has revealed that the majority of Ghanaians have confidence in vaccines, countering the widespread belief that vaccine hesitancy is a major challenge in the country.
The survey, which covered all 16 regions and 55 districts of Ghana, analysed a total of 13,905 valid responses, making it one of the most comprehensive assessments of public attitudes toward vaccines ever conducted in the country.
According to the findings, about 89.7% of respondents expressed confidence in vaccines, while 94.2% indicated a sense of collective responsibility to ensure vaccine availability. Additionally, 71.3% said they were willing to accept and use vaccines manufactured locally in Ghana.
The survey also recorded high levels of trust in healthcare professionals and national regulatory bodies, with 87.8% of respondents saying they trust doctors and nurses who administer vaccines. Many also expressed confidence in the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA).
However, the study identified a significant awareness gap regarding Ghana’s local vaccine manufacturing agenda. Only 14.3% of respondents were aware that Ghana is building local vaccine manufacturing capacity ahead of a planned 2027 launch.
The survey also noted regional disparities, with urbanised areas such as Greater Accra, Central, and Ashanti recording comparatively lower vaccine acceptance despite better access to information, while rural communities in northern Ghana and regions such as Oti demonstrated stronger trust and acceptance.
Key barriers to vaccine uptake identified in the study include the cost of vaccines, distance to vaccination centres, and concerns about cold chain and storage systems, particularly in rural areas.
The NVI says it plans to roll out a nationwide awareness and acceptance campaign involving government institutions, healthcare professionals, community leaders, civil society organisations, and the media to address misinformation and build public confidence in locally produced vaccines.
Speaking on the findings, Dr. Sodzi Sodzi-Tettey, Chief Executive Officer of the NVI, said Ghana has a strong foundation of vaccine confidence but stressed the need to bridge the awareness and trust gap for locally manufactured vaccines through targeted policy and communication strategies.
Ghana’s local vaccine manufacturing initiative forms part of the broader African Union vision under the Partnerships for African Vaccine Manufacturing (PAVM), which aims to produce at least 60% of Africa’s vaccines locally by 2040.
