By Maxwell Awumah
Ho (V/R), Oct 30, GNA – Dr Sodzi Sodzi-Tettey, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the National Vaccine Institute (NVI), has emphasised the critical need for science and communication to work in tandem to ensure the success of vaccination campaigns and other public health interventions.
Speaking during a webinar on: “Strengthening Public Health Systems and Sustaining Vaccine Confidence in Ghana,” Dr Sodzi-Tettey said vaccines would only save lives “when people understand, trust, and accept them, a process in which the media plays a pivotal role.”
He described vaccines as one of humanity’s greatest achievements, having saved millions of lives and prevented countless disabilities globally.
The webinar was jointly organised by the Africa Media and Malaria Research Network (AMMREN) and the NVI to engage journalists on vaccine-related issues.
This training was to help journalists gain a deeper understanding of vaccine science, ask informed questions, interpret data responsibly, and report with accuracy and empathy.
Dr Sodzi-Tettey highlighted Ghana’s Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), launched in 1978, as one of the country’s proudest public health accomplishments, saying Today, vaccination coverage exceeds 85 percent for most antigens, significantly reducing child mortality from vaccine-preventable diseases”.
He said COVID-19 pandemic exposed deep global inequalities in vaccine access, with Ghana and many African nations struggled to secure timely supplies.
This challenge he noted inspired a bold national vision to take ownership of vaccine production and research, culminating in the passage of the National Vaccine Institute Act (Act 1097) in 2023 to coordinate and oversee vaccine research, development, and manufacturing in Ghana for self-sufficiency and regional health security.
Dr. Sodzi-Tettey noted that the NVI had supported Atlantic Lifesciences Ltd. and DEK Vaccines Ltd. in prioritising high-impact interventions.
Whilst Atlantic Lifesciences is focusing on vaccines such as Tetanus-Diphtheria and HPV, and sera like Snake Venom Anti-Serum and Anti-Tetanus. DEK Vaccines Ltd. is preparing to produce Oral Cholera and Rotavirus vaccines once fully operational.
Ghana, he said was also forging a strategic partnership with PT Bio Farma of Indonesia, a leading state-run vaccine manufacturer with WHO prequalification status. This collaboration was initiated following the GAVI replenishment meeting in Brussels in June 2025, where President Mahama cited Indonesia’s success as a model for Ghana’s vaccine ambitions.
In August 2025, President Mahama pledged $50 million in seed funding to strengthen the NVI’s operations and directed the Institute to lead the development of a Cabinet Memorandum on Advanced Market Commitments (AMCs) in collaboration with the Ministries of Health, Finance, Trade, and Industry.
Dr Sodzi-Tettey explained that the AMC policy would prioritize government procurement of locally manufactured vaccines and sera products. “A Technical Working Group, chaired by the Health Minister, is finalizing the memo for Cabinet submission,” he added.
The NVI, he said, had completed an advanced draft of its Legislative Instrument to operationalise the 2023 Act. Stakeholder consultations are scheduled for November 6, 2025, at the Ministry of Health, after which the document would be submitted to Parliament.
Dr Sodzi-Tettey urged journalists to use their platforms to promote accurate, evidence-based vaccine information, warning that misinformation can erode public trust and delay lifesaving interventions — as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He called for a long-term partnership between scientists, health professionals, and the media, stressing that health communication must be continuous and collaborative.
“The story of vaccine development and manufacturing in Ghana is not only about science. It is about national pride, resilience, and innovation, a story that must be told accurately and proudly.”
Dr Rockson Michael Adjei, WHO Representative, noted that vaccine hesitancy had increased globally, partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic and revealed that about 21 percent of the world’s population remained hesitant toward vaccines, with Ghana recording a 14 percent decline in vaccine confidence between 2021 and 2022.
Dr Adjei said the WHO’s Behavioural and Social Drivers Framework offered tools to understand the factors influencing vaccine acceptance, including motivation, social dynamics, and practical barriers.
He called for context-specific communication strategies, community engagement, and capacity building for healthcare workers, journalists, and opinion leaders to counter misinformation and boost vaccine confidence.
Dr Charity Binkah, Executive Director of AMMREN, echoed the call for strengthened vaccine communication and enhanced media capacity in Ghana.
“Today, misinformation, vaccine hesitancy, and limited understanding continue to threaten progress. This is why building the media’s capacity to communicate accurate, science-based vaccine information is crucial,” she added.
She encouraged journalists to be at the forefront of building vaccine confidence, adding that, “Your role is indispensable, seek out facts, challenge misinformation, and tell the stories that move hearts and minds.”
GNA
Edited By: Maxwell Awumah/Linda Asante Agyei