By Leo Nelson
Doctors at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology are raising concerns that children in Ghana continue to die from pneumonia despite the disease being preventable through routine vaccination.
The warning comes amid World Immunization Week, observed globally from April 24 to April 30, as health experts intensify calls for stronger public education and improved vaccination coverage across the country.
Medical experts say vaccines that protect against pneumonia, meningitis, measles, and other life threatening infections remain widely available and free of charge in Ghana.
However, many children are still missing critical immunisations because of misinformation, delayed healthcare seeking, and practical challenges faced by families.
A recent analysis cited by health professionals found that only 56.45 percent of children aged between 12 and 35 months are fully vaccinated according to Ghana’s national immunisation schedule. The findings also revealed major disparities in vaccination coverage across regions.
Pneumonia Still Claiming Young Lives
Dr Sandra Kwarteng Owusu, a Paediatric Pulmonologist and Associate Professor at KNUST and Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, said the low vaccination coverage continues to have devastating consequences for children and families.
“I have seen children die from pneumonia who had never been vaccinated,” she stated. According to Dr Owusu, pneumonia remains one of the leading threats to child health despite the existence of effective vaccines that can significantly reduce severe illness and death.
She explained that while some parents understand the importance of childhood immunisation, others continue to delay or completely avoid vaccination due to fear, uncertainty, and false information circulating within communities.
“What has emerged after the pandemic is vaccine hesitancy. Some parents are still unsure whether it is safe to vaccinate their children,” she explained.
Health professionals warn that declining confidence in vaccines since the COVID 19 pandemic has contributed to reduced uptake of routine childhood immunisation services in several communities.
Misinformation and Poverty Identified as Key Barriers
Dr Owusu said the reasons behind missed vaccinations are complex and often linked to both social and economic challenges. She identified misinformation and vaccine hesitancy as major concerns, particularly in communities where inaccurate claims about vaccine safety continue to spread.
According to her, many parents also fail to seek medical care early because they initially mistake pneumonia symptoms for ordinary coughs or mild illnesses. In other cases, families struggle with practical barriers that make regular clinic attendance difficult.
These include transport costs, long distances to health facilities, and competing priorities such as farming activities, trading, or daily work obligations. Health experts believe these challenges continue to prevent many children from completing their immunisation schedules even when vaccines are available at no cost.
The doctors stressed that improving vaccination rates would require not only access to vaccines but also stronger public education and community engagement to rebuild confidence in childhood immunisation.
Declining Coverage Raises Outbreak Concerns
Medical experts have also warned that even small declines in routine vaccination coverage can weaken herd immunity and increase the risk of infectious disease outbreaks.
They pointed to recent measles outbreaks in parts of northern Ghana as evidence of how quickly gaps in vaccination protection can expose communities to dangerous diseases.
According to health professionals, herd immunity plays a critical role in protecting vulnerable groups, especially infants and children who may not yet have completed their vaccinations.
Where immunisation coverage falls, the risk of transmission rises rapidly, creating conditions for outbreaks that could otherwise have been prevented. Doctors say the situation highlights the importance of maintaining high routine vaccination coverage across all regions of the country.
Parents Urged to Recognise Pneumonia Symptoms Early
Health experts are also encouraging parents and caregivers to recognise the early warning signs of pneumonia and seek immediate medical attention for affected children.
Dr Owusu explained that pneumonia often begins with symptoms that may appear mild, including cough and fever, but can quickly become severe in young children if left untreated.
She said children with pneumonia may develop fast or difficult breathing, chest indrawing, and feeding difficulties, all of which require urgent medical care.
Without prompt treatment, the disease can lead to life threatening complications and death. Doctors are therefore urging parents not to ignore persistent coughs, breathing difficulties, or signs of weakness in young children.
According to health professionals, early diagnosis combined with vaccination remains one of the most effective ways to reduce childhood pneumonia deaths.
Renewed Call for Public Awareness
Ahead of World Immunization Week, healthcare professionals are calling for renewed national efforts to improve awareness about childhood vaccination and address fears surrounding immunisation.
They say partnerships between health authorities, communities, and organisations working to support vaccination awareness, including Pfizer, remain important in helping to close gaps in protection.
Medical experts insist that preventing vaccine preventable diseases requires consistent public trust in immunisation programmes and stronger support systems for families facing access challenges.
Dr Owusu maintained that no child should lose their life to a preventable disease when vaccines are readily available. Health professionals say increasing vaccination coverage nationwide will not only protect individual children but also strengthen public health and reduce the risk of future outbreaks.
As Ghana joins the global observance of World Immunization Week, doctors are hoping the renewed attention on childhood vaccination will encourage more parents to complete immunisation schedules and seek timely healthcare for their children.