EXPLAINER: What Ghana's mandatory typhoid vaccination means for food handlers

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) is set to roll out a mandatory typhoid vaccination programme for food handlers across the country as part of efforts to reduce the spread of the disease and protect public health.

The programme will require all food handlers, including street vendors, market sellers, restaurant and hotel workers, and employees of food and beverage companies to be vaccinated against typhoid fever before being allowed to operate.

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According to the GHS, the vaccination exercise will begin after an official launch by the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service.

The vaccine provides protection for up to three years, significantly reducing the risk of typhoid transmission through contaminated food and water.

Why the vaccination is necessary

The World Health Organisation (WHO) describes typhoid fever as a life-threatening infection caused by the bacterium Salmonella Typhi.

The disease is usually spread through contaminated food or water, and once ingested, the bacteria multiply and enter the bloodstream, potentially causing severe illness or death.

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Data from the GHS indicates that between 2021 and 2025, Ghana recorded 720,582 typhoid cases, highlighting the persistent public health burden of the disease.

Food handlers are considered a high-risk group due to their constant contact with food consumed by the public.

Despite routine medical screenings, gaps in prevention persist, making vaccination a necessary additional layer of protection.

Speaking at a follow-up stakeholder engagement meeting on Thursday, January 30, 2026, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, said typhoid fever remains endemic in Ghana and poses serious public health risks.

He explained that the programme would be implemented in phases and integrated into health certification requirements for the food industry.

He cautioned that food handlers who fail to receive the vaccine will not be permitted to operate.

Dr Asiedu-Bekoe described vaccination as a more cost-effective intervention than annual medical screenings, noting that a single dose protects for up to three years.

“Once you handle food, the extent of spread goes beyond the individual,” Dr Asiedu-Bekoe said, adding that the first phase would focus on food handlers in hotels, restaurants, and the organised food and beverage industry.

He assured stakeholders of the vaccine’s safety.

“I wish to assure all stakeholders that the vaccines to be administered under this programme are WHO pre-qualified and approved by the Ghana Food and Drugs Authority, meeting the highest standards of safety, quality and efficacy,” he remarked.

The Director of Public Affairs at GHS also clarified that while the vaccine will not be free, it will be subsidised to ensure affordability.

Food handlers will be required to present proof of vaccination before being allowed to operate.

Dr Selorm Kustsoati, Programme Manager of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), said vaccines will be delivered through regional and district health structures at an approved subsidised fee, with beneficiaries receiving proof of vaccination to support registration and certification by Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs).

“The vaccination will cover food establishments such as hotels, chop bars, pubs, butcher shops, hospital kitchens, as well as individuals across the food value chain, including kitchen staff, chefs, servers, and delivery personnel,” she said.

The initiative marks a shift from reactive screening and treatment to proactive prevention in Ghana’s fight against typhoid fever.

Who is involved in the rollout

The programme is being implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the Food and Drugs Authority, the Ghana Tourism Authority, MMDAs, development partners, and stakeholders in the food and hospitality industry.

Comprehensive implementation guidelines have been developed through stakeholder consultations.

Beyond vaccination

The programme will also include public education campaigns and media engagement to build trust and awareness.

According to the GHS, the initiative aligns with Ghana’s national health agenda and universal health coverage goals.

The mandatory typhoid vaccination programme is a preventive public health measure aimed at safeguarding consumers while improving food safety standards nationwide.

For food handlers, vaccination will soon become a requirement rather than an option.

JKB/AE

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