The Navrongo Health Research Centre (NHRC) on the 31st of July, 2025, welcomed a delegation from the Africa Coordinating Centre (ACC) and the Global Coordinating Centre (GCC) of the Global Vaccine Data Network (GVDN) as part of the BRAVE (Background Rates of Adverse Events) project.
The visit aimed to review the progress of NHRC as one of the sites leading in the piloting phase of this multi-country, multi-site study, which seeks to determine the background rates of Adverse Events of Special Interest (AESI) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
The BRAVE study addresses critical gaps in vaccine safety surveillance within LMICs, where existing systems are often passive and prone to underreporting, incomplete data, and reporting biases. By establishing reliable background rates of AESIs, the project provides vital tools for public health officials and communities to interpret adverse events in the correct context, ensuring sustained confidence in vaccination programs. The study employs three core methodologies: hospital-based active surveillance, Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) monitoring, and hospital-based analysis using existing electronic health records.
During their visit, the delegation engaged in in-depth discussions with NHRC researchers on lessons learned during the piloting phase, the systems implemented to ensure quality surveillance, and strategies used to overcome challenges in the field. The insights gained from NHRC’s experience will be shared with other countries and research sites participating in the study, contributing to improved vaccine safety monitoring globally.
The visiting team included, Steve Black the Principal Investigator, GVDN, Clare Cutland Scientific Coordinator, African Leadership in Vaccinology Excellence(ACC team), Hazel Clothier an Epidemiologist and Surveillance Manager, SAFEVIC, Jim Buttery an Infectious Disease Specialist, Andy Stergachis – Pharmacoepidemiologist (GCC team33, Luam Ghebreab an Epidemiology and Biostatistics Expert, GCC Team (New Zealand), Kimberly Gutu, Project Manager, ACC Team (South Africa), Jessica Yun an Epidemiologist, ACC Team, Tapiwa Matsika, Project Manager, GCC Team.
NHRC’s participation in the BRAVE project underscores its commitment to advancing vaccine safety science in Ghana and beyond. By contributing high-quality surveillance data and best practices, NHRC continues to play a pivotal role in strengthening global vaccine confidence and ensuring informed public health decision-making.