As Ghana ramps up efforts to roll out COVID-19 vaccines, emerging research suggests that the battle against the virus may not be won through supply alone.

A recent study led by Ghanaian pharmacist and healthcare researcher Leslie Akplah highlights a complex mix of gender dynamics, fear of side effects, and deep-seated mistrust at the heart of vaccine hesitancy in the country.

"We often assume that once vaccines arrive, people will take them," Akplah says. "But our research shows that the story is much more complicated. Acceptance is influenced by who you are, what you've heard, and who you trust."

The study, published in the National Journal of the Ghana Pharmaceutical Society, surveyed respondents from various regions of Ghana to understand their attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination. One of the most striking findings was the gender gap in vaccine acceptance, with men significantly more likely than women to indicate they would take the vaccine.

"Women raised specific concerns about fertility, pregnancy, and long-term side effects," Akplah explains. "These fears aren’t irrational—they’re shaped by personal experience and the information circulating in their communities."

But gender was not the only factor. Among the 25% of respondents who said they would refuse the vaccine, several reasons emerged. Fear of side effects was the most common, followed by apathy (with some respondents simply saying, “I don’t really care”), and distrust in vaccine quality—especially regarding products delivered to Africa. Concerns that the vaccines had been rushed through testing without proper safety checks also featured prominently.

For Akplah, these findings reflect a deeper issue of trust and communication breakdown between health authorities and the public. He believes that unless these social factors are addressed directly, even the best scientific solutions may fail to achieve their intended impact.

"The science may be sound, but if the messaging doesn’t meet people where they are, we’ll continue to face resistance," he says. "Vaccine campaigns need to engage communities meaningfully – especially women – and provide answers to the questions people are actually asking."

As Ghana and other African nations stand on the brink of mass vaccination, Akplah’s research offers timely insights that could shape how policymakers and health leaders design their outreach. His work reinforces the idea that in public health, listening is as important as leading.