Rotavirus vaccination continues to have a major impact on child health in Ghana, significantly reducing hospitalisations and deaths from severe diarrhoeal disease. Since the introduction of the vaccine in 2012, over 1.8 million cases have been averted, and rotavirus-related hospitalisations have dropped by 42%. Sustained surveillance is critical to maintaining these gains, guiding national immunisation policy, and contributing to global evidence on vaccine performance and strain circulation.
The World Health Organization (WHO) convened a rotavirus surveillance review meeting in Koforidua, bringing together representatives from sentinel sites, including the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR), and the Ghana Health Service (GHS). The meeting focused on reviewing three-year performance trends, validating data, sharing lessons learned, and developing strategies to address challenges such as ELISA test kit shortages, data inconsistencies, and shipment delays.
Performance at KATH has steadily improved, with enrolment rates for children under five rising from 84% in 2024 to 86% in 2025 and over 96% of stool samples collected within 24 hours in both years. Professor Emmanuel Addo-Yobo, KATH’s sentinel site coordinator, emphasized the importance of laboratory quality and strain characterisation, noting that timely sample shipment and consistent test kit availability are essential for scientific accuracy and global vaccine policy decisions.
WHO’s Dr. Michael Rockson Adjei highlighted that strong surveillance is key to sustaining vaccine impact, supporting national immunisation programmes, and informing global vaccine strategies. Health workers participating in the meeting, such as Jacqueline Tawia from Asokwa Children’s Hospital, noted the value of stepping back to see the bigger picture, understanding how accurate documentation and timely sample collection feed into broader health decision-making.
The review also strengthened coordination among WHO, KATH, NMIMR, and GHS, addressing operational challenges and promoting the integration of rotavirus surveillance into routine hospital systems. By improving laboratory capacity, enhancing data systems, and fostering institutional partnerships, Ghana is safeguarding the impact of the rotavirus vaccine and building a foundation for broader vaccine-preventable disease surveillance, ensuring children have better access to life-saving health interventions.
