Ghana has fully settled the countrys 2025 vaccine co-financing commitment of $24.5 million to ensure continued vaccine supply for essential childhood conditions.
The payment covers all childhood vaccines administered to children.
UNICEF Ghana and SEND Ghana have consequently commended the government for fully meeting its 2025 vaccine co-financing obligation.
The two organisations said the timely payment of the vaccines would help sustain progress in protecting childrens health and significantly reduce the risk of vaccine shortages.
UNICEF Ghanas commendation was contained in a press release issued in Accra yesterday, while SEND Ghana commented during a telephone interview through its Country Director, Harriet Nuamah Agyemang.
Paying $24.5 million as an obligated amount is a huge step in the right direction because it will make available vaccines, especially for children.
The payment tells us that this government would honour its promises, Ms Agyemang said.
Given Ghana’s recent default on co-financing payments, she recommends that the government maintain the payments in the coming years.
By sustaining, it means that the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) must be used for the intended purpose because that is where this money is paid.
The payments should also be made on time so that we receive our vaccines.
It takes quite some time for the country to get the vaccines.
The more you delay in paying, the later you will receive your vaccines, especially if you do not honour your obligations, she said.
She said that now that Ghana has a dedicated source for payment of vaccines, which is the NHIS, the payments should be made on time.
Referring to the vaccine shortage that hit the country a few years ago, UNICEF Ghanas release said Ghana had consistently and timely met its vaccine financing obligations until 2022, when post-COVID-19 economic challenges, rising co-financing requirements and limited fiscal space linked to the countrys transition from Gavi support, led to delays.
This full payment marks a significant milestone in Ghanas return to pre-pandemic financing performance.
It strongly demonstrates the governments continued commitment to strengthening the national immunisation programme, it emphasised.
The release stated that fulfilling the 2025 co-financing obligation was vital for ensuring an uninterrupted supply of vaccines, maintaining herd immunity and supporting the introduction of new vaccines.
It added that it also strengthened the broader health system and safeguarded the health and survival of Ghanaian children.
Proud
The release quoted the UNICEF Representative in Ghana, Osama Makkawi Khogali, as saying, I am proud to stand with the Government of Ghana in celebrating this important milestone.
Although post-COVID economic pressures led to delays in payments and interrupted regular vaccine availability and vaccination coverage, this full payment reflects a commendable prioritisation of child health.
By investing in immunisation, the government ensures that every Ghanaian child, regardless of location, is protected from vaccine-preventable diseases.
It said UNICEF welcomed Ghanas renewed commitment to immunisation and encouraged continued efforts to strengthen domestic vaccine financing, especially as development aid declined.
It stated that investing in vaccines offered one of the highest returns in public health, adding that preventing disease was far more cost-effective than treating it.