Dr. Frank John Lule, the Officer-in-Charge of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Ghana, has urged the local media to fight misinformation and highlight success stories associated with vaccines.
“As trusted voices, you have the power to counter misinformation and highlight vaccine success stories. Always seek information from credible sources like the Ministry of Health, Ghana Health Service and the World Health Organisation and the Centres for Disease Prevention and Control amongst others,” he said, at a webinar to commemorate the 2025 African Vaccination Week and Child Health in Ghana.
According to him, stakeholders should use the collaboration to reaffirm their commitment to universal health coverage and a future where no child suffers from preventable diseases.
The winner was on the theme: “Every Child Deserves a Healthy Future: Invest in Your Child, Attend ‘Weighing’ Regularly.”
Dr. Frank John Lule extolled immunization as an efficient tool in the global health system in curbing diseases saying “Routine immunization has been and continues to be the backbone of resilient health systems, ensuring healthcare reaches everyone, everywhere,including the hardest-to-reach communities.”
He lauded Ghana’s Immunization Programme as one of the strongest in Africa, adding that it exemplifies how vaccines advance Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by integrating childhood, maternal health and nutrition interventions.
He noted that his outfit and our partners would continue to work alongside the Government of Ghana to strengthen immunization and primary health care systems and support the country’s journey towards achieving universal health coverage.
Mrs. Bridget Anim, the Deputy Director of Health Communication and Health Promotion Division at the Ghana Health Service (GHS) told the media that vaccination plays a crucial role in safeguarding public health.
She, therefore, charged the media to step up advocacy for vaccine acceptance in the areas of shaping perception and influencing public opinion.
He also advised media to support an agenda aimed at advancing vaccine acceptance and Importance of vaccination.
According to Dr. Anim, vaccination protects vulnerable individuals, adding that high vaccine uptake rates are crucial for achieving and maintaining community Herd immunity.
The Deputy Director at GHS observed that religious belief could be a hurdle in advancing high vaccination rate in Ghana,emphasising that 69% of Christians could reject vaccines as a medical treatment, as compared to Muslims.
“Religious beliefs may be a major barrier to achieving high vaccination rates in Ghana.Christian respondents were 69% more likely to express hesitancy compared to Muslim respondents”.
According to Dr. Anim 82.8% of Ghanaians welcomed vaccination against COVID-19, whilst few others turned it down.
Others were undecided. “82.8% of the Ghanaian respondents said that they were willing to be vaccinated against COVID-19 when offered the opportunity. 9.7% said they were not, and 7.5% were undecided.
She further disclosed to the media that among those who said that they were not willing to be vaccinated, reasons included believing that they would experience harmful side effects from the vaccine (54.3%), with 43.4% believing the vaccine to be dangerous,whilst government mistrust attracts 40.0%.
On his part, Prof Francis B. Zotor, the Vice Board Chair ofAfrican Media and Malaria Research Network(AMMREN), noted that vaccination was one of the most effective public health interventions known to humanity and yet, its success depends not only on science and logistics, but also on trust, information and public confidence.
“Vaccination is a crucial public health measure that has helped to eradicate deadly diseases and save millions of lives. However, vaccine uptake depends largely on what information is shared. “In an era where misinformation can spread faster than any virus, journalists have a responsibility not just to report, but to educate, to clarify, and to champion the truth”, he said and advised the media to support the call of demystifying the myth surrounding vaccines in Ghana.
“Whether it is countering vaccine myths, sharing personal testimonies, or highlighting the work of front line health workers, journalists have a pivotal role in shaping the national narrative.”
To this end, Prof Zotor told the media that AMMREN was ready to assist them for impactful stories as far vaccines were concerned.
“As a proud partner of the EPI, AMMREN is committed to empowering journalists with the right tools and data to tell impactful, evidence-based stories. The webinar today is about reinforcing that commitment.
“It is about equipping journalists with insights, deepening their partnership with health experts, and encouraging them to be bold and committed in the coverage of immunisation and child health issues.”
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