Vaccination and immunization remain central to public health in Ghana. The country’s system is built around the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), established in 1978 with support from WHO and UNICEF, which ensures that children, pregnant women, and other high‑priority groups are protected against vaccine‑preventable diseases. Over the decades, this programme has helped lower child mortality and control many once‑common infections.
What Vaccines Are Given and Why They Matter:
Ghana’s routine immunization schedule includes vaccines against the major causes of childhood death:
- BCG (to prevent tuberculosis) given at birth.
- Polio vaccines (oral and inactivated) in multiple doses in infancy.
- Pentavalent vaccine (protects against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, and H. influenzae type b).
- Measles‑Rubella (MR) at 9 and 18 months.
- Yellow Fever vaccine at 9 months.
- Pneumococcal and Rotavirus vaccines to prevent severe pneumonia and diarrhoea.
- HPV vaccine for adolescent girls to reduce future cervical cancer risk.
- Malaria vaccines, recently introduced, aim to cut child deaths where malaria burden is high.
These vaccines work by training the immune system to recognize and fight specific pathogens before they cause serious illness.
How Coverage Looks Across Ghana
Nationally, immunization coverage has improved but still varies widely by region, age group, and vaccine type.
Children aged 12–23 months:
- About 75% of children have received all basic antigens (BCG, polio, pentavalent, and MR) by age 1.
- Only about 56% are fully vaccinated according to the national schedule, which includes additional doses like pneumococcal and rotavirus vaccines. This falls below the 90% target recommended by the WHO.
Regional differences are large:
- Coverage is highest in southern regions such as Greater Accra, where about 72% of children aged 12–35 months are fully vaccinated, and Western North with rates around 88%.
- The Northern Region records much lower coverage, with around 56% full vaccination for similar age groups and northern districts showing up to 81.5% of older toddlers not fully vaccinated.
District‑level data show similarly wide differences, with many districts in Ashanti Region exceeding 90% full immunization among young children, while some areas in northern and savannah zones lag significantly behind.
Urban vs rural coverage also differs, though not always in predictable ways. Some studies show basic antigen coverage slightly higher in rural areas due to strong community outreach, while full immunization against the national schedule remains inconsistent.
COVID‑19 and Adult Vaccination: Adult immunization, especially for COVID‑19, has been a challenge. As of recent regional reports, an estimated 34% of Ghana’s population completed the primary COVID‑19 vaccine series, with about 44.6% receiving a booster dose. This highlights ongoing work needed not just in childhood vaccination but in broader adult immunization efforts as well.
What Drives These Patterns
- Access and geography: Remote and northern communities often have poorer access to health facilities.
- Education and awareness: Children of mothers with no formal education are much more likely to miss vaccines compared to those whose mothers have higher education.
- Health‑seeking behaviour: Women who attend antenatal care regularly, deliver in health facilities, and are exposed to health information are statistically more likely to complete their child’s vaccination schedule.
Progress and the Way Forward
- Despite challenges, Ghana continues to strengthen its immunization programme. Recent initiatives include catch‑up campaigns to reach children who missed routine doses, stronger outreach in island and riverine communities, and sustained partnerships with global immunization partners.
- New vaccines like the HPV and malaria vaccines are being rolled out nationwide, with support from UNICEF and other partners to improve availability and uptake.
Source:
- Ghana Statistical Service (GSS)
- BMC Pediatrics
- UNICEF Ghana
- WHO Regional Office for Africa
- Ghana Health Service