Ghana Adopts Structured Vaccine Prioritization to Strengthen National Immunization Program

Ghana’s Ministry of Health, Ghana Health Service and National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG‑Ghana) are conducting a Vaccine Prioritization and Optimization (VPOP) exercise with technical support from WHO and UNICEF. The process moves beyond individual vaccine proposals to evaluate the entire immunization portfolio, weighing public‑health benefits, costs, equity, feasibility, cold‑chain needs, health‑worker workload and long‑term financing. Candidates include the hepatitis B birth dose, rabies, typhoid conjugate, oral cholera and respiratory syncytial virus interventions, as well as schedule changes that could improve impact or simplify delivery. Structured Evidence‑to‑Decision frameworks guide recommendations, which will inform updates to Ghana’s National Immunization Strategy and the country’s application for Gavi support. The VPOP aims to secure sustainable, evidence‑based vaccine choices as external financing shifts.