The National Vaccine Institute (NVI) has launched a comprehensive nationwide Vaccine Perception Survey to strengthen public trust in locally manufactured vaccines, as Ghana prepares for its eventual transition from support by the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) by 2030.
In a statement issued on February 19, 2026, the NVI described the initiative as a strategic measure aimed at ensuring long-term vaccine sustainability, national health security, and community confidence in domestically produced vaccines.
The survey, which commenced on February 16 and will continue until March 10, 2026, spans 55 districts across all 16 regions of the country. It seeks to collect quantitative data from 11,077 respondents through structured interviews employing random sampling techniques. In addition, seven focus group discussions will be conducted in selected districts to gain deeper qualitative insights into public perceptions, concerns, and attitudes toward vaccines.
According to the NVI, the study will assess public attitudes toward vaccines, identify drivers of vaccine confidence, examine barriers to accepting Made-in-Ghana vaccines, and track misinformation trends that could undermine vaccine uptake.
“Vaccine confidence varies across the country,” the NVI noted. “While certain northern regions show higher levels of hesitancy, urban centres are contending with misinformation dynamics that differ from rural communities.”
To ensure national representativeness, the selected districts include a mix of metropolitan, municipal, and district assemblies. Approximately 200 respondents per district are being interviewed, allowing for meaningful district-level and regional comparisons. Districts were selected based on geographic diversity, levels of vaccine hesitancy, strategic importance for the rollout of Ghana-made vaccines, and accessibility for field teams.
Chief Executive Officer of the NVI, Dr. Sodzi Sodzi-Tettey, stressed that the initiative is focused on listening and understanding the public rather than persuasion.
“This is not a sales pitch. We genuinely want to listen and understand. All information provided is strictly confidential. Together, we build vaccine confidence that protects every Ghanaian,” Dr. Sodzi-Tettey said.
He further emphasized the importance of safeguarding Ghana’s reputation as a leader in immunization in West Africa as the nation transitions into domestic vaccine manufacturing.
The NVI explained that survey findings will inform geographically tailored communication strategies to support the rollout of locally produced vaccines. The data will also help distinguish between attitudinal hesitancy and structural barriers, enabling health authorities to design targeted and effective interventions.
Furthermore, the study will establish a national baseline for vaccine confidence, assess regional and demographic variations, and evaluate the influence of Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) Ghana approval on public acceptance of vaccines.
Residents in the selected districts have been urged to cooperate with field teams, with the NVI assuring that participation is voluntary and responses will remain confidential.
By linking domestic vaccine production with public trust, the NVI aims to ensure that Ghana-made vaccines are not only scientifically robust but also widely trusted and accepted, reinforcing national health security in the post-GAVI era.
