Ghana risks a potential vaccine shortage due to the government's failure to fulfill its co-financing obligations to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) this year.The country is currently relying on stockpiled vaccines from last year, as no new vaccines have been delivered for this year's immunisation efforts.The Executive Director of Hope for Future Generations (HFFG), Cecilia Senoo who disclosed this at a news conference in Accra yesterday said the delay posed a serious threat to progress made in immunisation and raises concerns about the outbreak of vaccine-preventable diseases, with serious consequences for children and public health.The estimated cost of vaccines for Ghana this year is $47.2 million.While GAVI is expected to contribute $25.2 million, Ghana is required to pay $16.3 million, which was due in the first quarter of this year, March 2025.However, the government was yet to make this payment.According to Ms Senoo "a further delay in fulfilling Ghana's vaccine co-financing obligations risks imminent stockouts, interrupting routine immunisation services and leaving millions of children vulnerable to preventable diseases."She highlighted the impact of previous delays, noting that Ghana's default and failure to meet co-financing requirements had contributed to vaccine shortages and significant public health challenges."In 2022, for instance, the Northern Region saw over 120 measles cases due to vaccine stockouts, and a polio outbreak in 2019, Ghana's first in a decade, was linked to low vaccination coverage and gaps in surveillance".As Ghana plans to transition from GAVI support by 2030, Ms Senoo called on the government to strengthen its domestic resource mobilisation efforts to ensure the sustainability of immunisation programs."The government must explore innovative financing models to address funding gaps in immunisation and primary healthcare (PHC) delivery," she said.Ms Senoo further advocated for the establishment of a dedicated immunisation financing pool and an emergency preparedness fund to support surveillance, strengthen health system resilience, and ensure rapid outbreak responses.GAVI is a global public-private partnership aimed at increasing access to immunisation in lower-income countries.It currently operates in over 130 countries, involving governments, including Ghana's, as well as associations, NGOs, development agencies, foundations, companies, and other stakeholders worldwide.
Ghana risks vaccine shortage over failure to fulfil co-financing obligations - HFFG - Ghanaian Times
Published:
1 day ago
Source:
Ghanaian Times