Ghana to launch pregnancy registry in 2026 to monitor vaccine safety for expectant mothers and newborns
Ghana is set to pilot a Pregnancy Registry in early 2026 as part of efforts to monitor the safety of vaccines administered to pregnant women and their babies.
The initiative, launched under the Maternal Immunisation Safety Monitoring Programme, aims to track adverse reactions to vaccines during pregnancy and after childbirth. It will be led by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), with funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and implementation by the Dodowa and Kintampo Health Research Centres.
Pregnant women attending health facilities within the catchment areas of the two research centres will be enrolled in the programme, vaccinated, and closely monitored throughout their pregnancy and postpartum period.
Speaking at a stakeholder engagement in Accra, Dr. Edwin Nkansah, Director of Vaccines, Vigilance, and Clinical Trials at the FDA, stated that the goal is to develop a robust system for evaluating vaccine safety in pregnant populations.
“This project will help us monitor how pregnant women respond to vaccines at every stage of pregnancy,” he said, adding that the registry will offer critical data to ensure the safe use of pharmaceuticals during pregnancy.
Dr. Frank Atuguba, Director of the Dodowa Health Research Centre, announced that an initial group of 150 pregnant women has been selected for monitoring, beginning in early pregnancy and continuing through delivery.
He emphasized that while vaccines are a highly cost-effective disease prevention tool, immunizing pregnant women can also help protect their unborn children. The project will include trials for vaccines targeting Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and Group B Streptococcal Pneumonia to safeguard both maternal and neonatal health.
Madam Adeli Ashie, Chief Regulatory Officer at the FDA’s Safety and Monitoring Department, highlighted that pregnant women face elevated risks from certain infectious diseases, which can result in severe outcomes.
She noted that the Pregnancy Registry aligns with the FDA’s broader mandate to oversee vaccine safety, particularly for vulnerable populations like expectant mothers.
