By Mildred Siabi-Mensah
Takoradi, Feb. 20, GNA-Dr. Sodzi Sodzi-Tettey, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Vaccine Institute, says the institute has launched a survey on Ghana Vaccine to engender public confidence.
âGhana has taken a bold and strategic step towards funding its own vaccine supplies and safeguarding public health, as it prepares to transition from support by the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) by 2030,â he said.
This, transition he noted, marked a defining moment in the country’s journey towards vaccine sustainability, sovereignty, and long-term health security.
According to him, to strengthen its work and ensure that locally manufactured vaccines are trusted and accepted, the National Vaccine Institute (NVI) has launched a nationwide Vaccine Perception Survey.
The CEO said the survey sought to generate evidence-based insights rooted in community realities, ensuring that Made-in-Ghana vaccines met not only the highest quality and safety standards, but also engendered trust and confidence among end users.
He said the survey was being conducted in 55 districts across all 16 regions of Ghana and would run from February 16 to March 10, 2026.
It includes quantitative data collection from 11,077 respondents through structured interviews using random sampling and seven focus group discussions in strategically selected districts to gather qualitative insights.
The study would assess public attitudes toward vaccines, identify drivers of confidence, examine barriers to acceptance of Made-in-Ghana vaccines, and map misinformation trends that undermined uptake.
By combining quantitative data (prevalence, demographics) with qualitative insights (belief systems, trusted messengers), the survey would enable geographically tailored and evidence-driven interventions.
Dr. Sodzi-Tettey said Vaccine confidence varied significantly cross regions. For example, parts of Northern Ghana report higher levels of hesitancy, while urban areas face different misinformation dynamics.
“Conducting research across all 16 regions ensures that policies reflect Ghana’s diversity and address the realities of both high-confidence and high-hesitancy communities,” he said.
The 55-district sample includes representation from every region, covering Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies, as well as seven strategic sites for focus group discussions.
Approximately 200 respondents per district provide sufficient statistical power for district-level estimates and regional comparisons, balancing geographic representation with operational feasibility.
He noted that district selection was guided by five criteria; Regional stratification (all 16 regions included); Geographic diversity (urban, rural, and semi-urban areas); Variation in vaccine
hesitancy levels; Strategic relevance for Made-in-Ghana vaccine rollout and Accessibility for safe and effective fieldwork.
He indicated that the structured and representative approach ensured that findings reflected Ghana’s broader population.
The survey would generate evidence that would inform communication strategies and identify trusted messengers for the Made-in-Ghana vaccine rollout.
It would distinguish between attitudinal hesitancy and structural barriers to enable targeted interventions; Guide region-specific and demographic-specific vaccine messaging.
Also, it would support Ghana’s health security transition by aligning manufacturing capacity with public acceptance and build sustained public trust through transparent, evidence-based communication.
Additionally, the survey would establish a national baseline for vaccine confidence by region and demographics, identify drivers and barriers to uptake, assess the misinformation landscape, and examine the influence of Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) approval on vaccine acceptance.
The National Vaccine Institute had therefore appealed to residents in the 55 selected districts to actively support this important research.
“The voices of respondents are important. Their feedback, concerns, questions, and experiences will directly shape government communication strategies and ensure that Made-in-Ghana vaccines reach every household. Participation is voluntary, and all information collected will remain strictly confidential”, Dr. Sodzi Sodzi-Tettey added.
GNA
Edited by Justina Hilda Paaga/Benjamin Mensah