…..Urges Stronger Commitment Amid Immunisation Gaps
By Fatima Saka
The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa has said that vaccines prevent an estimated 1.8 million deaths across the continent every year, underscoring the urgent need to expand immunisation coverage to reach millions still left behind.
In a message marking the African Vaccination Week 2026, observed from April 24 to 30, the WHO emphasised that immunisation remains one of the most effective and life-saving public health interventions.
The 2026 campaign, themed “For Every Generation, Vaccines Work,” highlights the importance of vaccination across all stages of life—from infancy to old age.
According to the WHO, vaccination has protected nearly 500 million African children since 2000. However, the agency stressed that immunisation benefits extend beyond childhood, noting that vaccines such as the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine help prevent cervical cancer in adolescent girls, while maternal vaccines safeguard both mothers and newborns.
“Immunisation is a lifelong investment in health,” the statement said, pointing to the role of booster doses and adult vaccines in maintaining immunity throughout life.
The WHO also highlighted key milestones across the continent, including the introduction of malaria vaccines in 25 countries and the use of innovations such as digital immunisation records and solar-powered cold chain systems to improve vaccine delivery in remote areas.
A major breakthrough was recorded in December 2025 when Cabo Verde, Mauritius and Seychelles were certified to have eliminated measles and rubella—the first countries in the WHO African Region to achieve the milestone.
Efforts under the Big Catch-Up initiative also helped vaccinate nearly 8.75 million children who had missed routine immunisation, restoring coverage for diseases such as diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough to pre-pandemic levels.
In addition, global polio vaccination campaigns since 1988 have averted an estimated 1.57 million deaths and prevented paralysis in over 20 million people. In 2025 alone, nearly 200 million children were vaccinated in high-risk regions such as the Lake Chad Basin and the Horn of Africa.
Despite these gains, the WHO raised concerns over persistent gaps in coverage. About 6.7 million children in Africa have not received a single routine vaccine, while another 9.5 million remain under-immunised, particularly in conflict-affected, impoverished, or hard-to-reach communities.
The agency warned that ongoing measles outbreaks, the threat of vaccine-derived poliovirus, and recent diphtheria cases highlight the fragility of progress.
At the midpoint of the Immunization Agenda 2030, the WHO called on African countries to increase domestic funding and strengthen national ownership of immunisation programmes, especially as external funding becomes less predictable.
“Immunisation is not a stand-alone programme. It is a pillar of primary health care and a foundation of universal health coverage,” the statement noted.
The WHO further stressed the economic value of vaccines, revealing that every dollar invested in childhood immunisation in Africa yields an estimated $44 in economic returns through reduced healthcare costs and increased productivity.
The organisation also referenced a recent joint report with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which assesses two decades of immunisation progress in Africa and outlines steps needed to meet 2030 targets.
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The WHO Regional Director called on governments, partners, and communities to intensify collaboration to ensure equitable access to vaccines.
“Together, we must ensure the benefits of immunisation reach every person, at every stage of life,” the statement concluded.
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