By: Jones Anlimah
Ghana has begun a nationwide effort to deepen public trust in immunisation as the country prepares to finance and produce its own vaccines beyond support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance by 2030.
The initiative, led by the National Vaccine Institute Ghana, is a Vaccine Perception Survey covering 55 districts across all 16 regions from February 16 to March 10, 2026.
Health authorities say the exercise is not only a research activity but a national listening process intended to ensure communities shape how locally manufactured vaccines are introduced and communicated.
Putting communities at the centre, the survey will collect data from more than 11,000 respondents through interviews and focus group discussions, allowing residents to express concerns, beliefs and expectations about vaccines produced in Ghana.
Officials say vaccine confidence cannot be achieved solely through scientific approval but through dialogue, transparency and respect for community experiences.
The study will examine trust levels, misinformation patterns, cultural beliefs and structural barriers including access challenges that influence whether families accept immunisation services.
Why public trust matters Health experts warn that as Ghana transitions to domestic vaccine production, acceptance will be as important as manufacturing capacity.
The findings will guide communication strategies, identify trusted community voices, and help health authorities tailor messages to different regions and social groups.
The survey will also assess how regulatory assurance from the Food and Drugs Authority Ghana affects public willingness to take locally produced vaccines.
A call for citizen participation Chief Executive Officer of the National Vaccine Institute Ghana, Sodzi Sodzi-Tettey, has appealed to residents in selected districts to actively engage with field teams.
He emphasised that participation is voluntary and confidential, noting that feedback gathered will directly influence national health communication and rollout strategies.
Building confidence for the future Public health advocates say the exercise represents a shift from top-down messaging to community-driven health policy, where citizens help shape programmes meant to protect them.
By addressing myths, amplifying trusted messengers and identifying real barriers to access, authorities believe Ghana can strengthen vaccine confidence and safeguard long-term health security.
The initiative forms part of broader efforts to ensure that locally produced vaccines are not only available, but trusted, accepted and used by every community.
