Stakeholders fear government’s inability to continuously supply vaccines could spell doom for the country in dealing with outbreaks of preventable diseases such as measles, yellow fever, and polio, but to name a few.

Stakeholders made up of civil society organisations, Ghana Health Service, traditional and religious leaders, academia, NGOs non-governmental organisations among others question the country’s commitment to securing the lives of children. 

This came to light at a roundtable discussion organised by Hope For Future Generation and Socio-Serve Ghana at Kpong in the Eastern region on the need to increase and sustain domestic vaccine funding for immunization service delivery. 

Eastern Regional Coordinator for Expanded Programme on Immunization, Peter Twene in an interview with Joy News said over 36,000 children for example could not have access to the Rota vaccine in 2023 compared to 2022.

“Last year, the region battled with vaccine supply issues especially Rota and the data I presented revealed that over 36,000 children were left out and we’re asking government to help address the situation. Imagine what other regions look like.”  

“Government has to make vaccines available this year for eligible children to help reduce the impact of preventable diseases. 2022 was ok, however challenges in 2023 could erode our gains in the previous year,” he warned. 

Peter Twene urged caregivers and mothers to make children available for immunization to help reduce child morbidity and mortality. 

Ghana has had access to vaccines through the GAVI Alliance, however, government is said to be inconsistent in co-financing for the supply of vaccines. 

Government defaulted in payment in 2014, 2016 and 2018 as delay occasioned payment in 2023 as well.

Chief Executive Officer of Socio-Serve Ghana and board member of Hope ForFuture Generation, Josephine Sackey said government through the finance ministry has to prioritize financing of vaccines. 

“Supply last year was inadequate and this year, we have started seeing sporadic shortages. Co-payment for immunisation has to be done timely. The stakeholders have assured us that we have their support in pushing for vaccines to protect our children”, she said. 

She extended the call to the private sector to come in and offer the needed help for immunization financing. 

“Supporting this as part of corporate social responsibility is in order because these children will grow to become the labour force,” she explained. 

Head of the Academic Programme at Ensign Global College, Dr. Stephen Manorteyshared the role Ensign would play in a coalition being formed to push for immunisation financing. 

“ As a school of public health, we train professionals in that regard. As far as the coalition is concerned, we will bring our academic expertise to bear and become the voice for the voiceless. We’re going to work with them to move this along,” he assured. 

According to him, the institution will seize the opportunity to work with any other stakeholder that is in to promote the health of the nation by way of research, outcome and its impact on the nation. 

The stakeholders assured organizers of their readiness for the long haul after sharing ideas on domestic immunization financing. 

The roundtable discussion forms part of the Financing Immunisation Advocacy Response Project(FAIR).