National Vaccine Institute commits to advancing Ghana’s vaccine self-sufficiency agenda
The Acting Chief Executive Officer of the National Vaccine Institute (NVI), Dr. Sodzi Sodzi-Tettey, has reaffirmed his commitment to accelerating local vaccine manufacturing in Ghana.
Speaking at the AEFI Reporting Toolkit Study Dissemination Meeting on March 10, 2025, Dr. Sodzi-Tettey emphasized the need for focused action to ensure vaccine self-sufficiency by 2030.
Acknowledging the work of his predecessor, Prof. William Ampofo, Dr. Sodzi-Tettey praised the strategic partnerships, stakeholder engagements, and infrastructure development that have positioned the NVI for success.
He noted that these efforts provide a solid foundation for achieving Ghana’s vaccine production goals.
Dr. Sodzi-Tettey highlighted the pressing need for local vaccine manufacturing, citing lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and the risks of vaccine nationalism, which left many African countries vulnerable.
He also pointed out that Ghana will transition out of GAVI support by 2030, meaning the country must be prepared to finance and produce its vaccines independently.
“Africa has the highest incidence of mortality from infectious diseases, yet we lack sufficient capacity to produce vaccines. This constitutes a serious threat,” he stated.
The NVI’s vision aligns with the government’s commitment, under President John Dramani Mahama to prevent disease, promote health, and manage public health emergencies effectively.
The Acting CEO emphasized that Ghana’s vaccine research, development, and manufacturing program has strong backing from international organizations, including the African Union (Africa CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Bank, and the European Union (EU).
He reaffirmed his confidence in Ghana’s ability to manufacture vaccines, addressing skepticism by pointing to the country’s robust pharmaceutical industry.
Currently, 37 pharmaceutical companies are engaged in drug manufacturing, with Atlantic Lifesciences and DEK Vaccines Ltd already investing in vaccine production infrastructure and technical capacity-building.
Dr. Sodzi-Tettey assured stakeholders that Ghana’s Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), a regional center of regulatory excellence, would ensure the quality and safety of locally produced vaccines.
Additionally, he highlighted the critical role of research institutions such as Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR), WACCBIP, KCCR, UHAS, and CSIR in advancing vaccine research and development.
“The work ahead is enormous, but with a renewed sense of urgency and collective action, Ghana can become self-sufficient in vaccine production,” he added.
According to Dr Sharon Laryea, Project Director and Technical Lead for (ACC) there is no single policy document for healthcare worker protection in relation to reporting of adverse incidents including AEFIs.
She stated that there should be a sensitization orientation for healthcare workers on the reporting process of AEFIs to address the fear of reporting.
AM/KA
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