The Ghana AIDS Commission has announced plans to roll out an HIV preventive vaccine in 2026, marking a major step in the country’s fight against the virus.
The move comes as Ghana continues to grapple with high infection rates, with over 15,000 new cases recorded in 2023, according to national HIV/AIDS data.
Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, September 30, the Commission’s Director-General, Dr. Prosper Akanbong, said the vaccine would form a central part of the country’s prevention strategy.
“As a country, we have already put the vaccine as a main component of our HIV prevention programme. Initially, we will secure it from outside, but with the pharmacy organisations that you see here, they have positioned themselves to be able to produce the vaccines locally,” Dr. Akanbong explained.
He revealed that the Commission, with support from the German development agency GIZ, has already begun working with pharmaceutical companies to ensure a reliable supply chain.
“Together with GIZ, we are on track, and in the latter part of 2026 or the early part of 2027, we should be able to produce vaccines for Ghana,” he added.
A Potential Game-Changer
The vaccine is expected not only to strengthen HIV prevention but also to boost local pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity. Health experts believe the development could significantly reduce transmission rates, especially among high-risk groups.
HIV/AIDS in Ghana
An estimated 354,000 people were living with HIV in 2023, with women and young people disproportionately affected. The Ashanti, Greater Accra, and Eastern regions remain the hardest hit.
Despite improvements in access to antiretroviral therapy, stigma, inadequate testing, and persistently high infection rates remain major challenges. Public health experts say the vaccine could mark a turning point in Ghana’s decades-long battle against HIV/AIDS.
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