Tepa Nursing College Principal Advocates for Vaccine Literacy at Global Infectious Diseases Conference in Florida
The Principal of the Tepa Nurses and Midwifery Training College, Dr. Albert Opoku, has made a strong case for vaccine literacy and public health education as a key tool in combating global infectious diseases. This came during his participation in the International Conference on Global Infectious Diseases and Clinical Vaccines held on May 1, 2025, at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Orlando SeaWorld, Florida, USA.
In his address at the conference, Dr. Opoku revealed that he has officially become a member of the Scientific Research Conferences (SRC) — a global community of researchers dedicated to advancing scientific knowledge across disciplines. His membership, he explained, will facilitate greater collaboration and participation in international health and research initiatives.
Touching on the theme of his presentation, Dr. Opoku emphasized that vaccination remains the most effective preventive strategy in public health. However, he expressed concern over the growing phenomenon of vaccine hesitancy, which he attributed largely to the misinformation and disinformation often spread through mass media platforms.
“Despite the significant achievements in global public health through vaccines, hesitancy continues to rise,” he noted. “This has been recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the top ten global health threats. In 2023 alone, 22 million children missed their first dose of the measles vaccine — a worrying increase from 19.3 million in 2019.”
Dr. Opoku underscored the need to adopt comprehensive strategies to increase vaccine coverage and combat future outbreaks of diseases. He advocated for the launch of vaccine literacy campaigns tailored to specific societal concerns, particularly around vaccine safety. Using the example of COVID-19, he said that misinformation regarding its vaccine safety significantly contributed to public fear and resistance.
“Public education campaigns should be conducted through multiple media platforms — including radio, television, social media, and print — and should be translated into local languages to ensure accessibility and impact,” he said.
He also touched on a common myth, cautioning that some parents fear their child’s immune system may be “overloaded” if they receive multiple vaccines at once. He clarified that such concerns must be addressed using evidence-based messaging and community engagement.
Dr. Opoku referenced a historical case to illustrate the tension between individual rights and public health priorities. He cited the 1905 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Jacobson v. Massachusetts, in which a Cambridge resident’s refusal to take the smallpox vaccine was overruled by the court in favor of protecting public health. “This case laid the legal foundation for state action in protecting public health, even if it requires limiting certain individual liberties,” he explained.
In closing, Dr. Opoku reiterated that vaccines have revolutionized disease control by providing immunity against over 30 diseases globally, according to WHO’s 2024 report. Yet, the full potential of vaccines can only be realized if vaccine hesitancy is effectively addressed through scientific communication, community involvement, and robust public health policies.
His participation at the Florida conference has been hailed as a significant milestone for Ghana’s nursing and midwifery training institutions, highlighting the growing role of Ghanaian professionals on the global health research stage.
