The World Health Organization (WHO) has called on African countries to strengthen efforts toward lifelong immunization, as the continent marks African Vaccination Week 2026.
In a message to commemorate the week, the WHO Regional Director for Africa said vaccines continue to save about 1.8 million lives annually across the continent, underscoring their critical role in safeguarding public health and supporting socio-economic development.
According to the WHO, vaccination not only prevents deaths but also helps keep families intact, reduces pressure on healthcare systems, and enables communities to remain productive without disruptions caused by disease outbreaks.
This year’s African Vaccination Week, observed from April 24 to 30, is themed “For Every Generation, Vaccines Work,” highlighting the importance of immunization across all stages of life.
The organization noted that since 2000, nearly 500 million African children have been protected through routine immunization programmes.
However, it stressed that vaccination should not end in childhood.
The WHO explained that vaccines such as the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine protect adolescent girls from cervical cancer, while maternal vaccines safeguard both mothers and newborns.
Booster doses and other recommended vaccines also help maintain immunity into adulthood and old age.
The Regional Director pointed to several success stories across Africa, including the adoption of digital systems to track vaccination schedules, the use of solar-powered refrigerators to preserve vaccines in remote areas, and stronger collaboration between health workers and community leaders.
In addition, malaria vaccines are currently being introduced in 25 African countries, offering new hope in the fight against one of the continent’s most persistent public health challenges.
A major milestone was also recorded in December 2025, when Cabo Verde, Mauritius and Seychelles were certified as having eliminated measles and rubella—the first countries in the WHO African Region to achieve this feat.
The WHO further disclosed that through initiatives such as the Big Catch-Up campaign, nearly 8.75 million children who previously missed routine vaccines have now been reached.
Immunization coverage for diseases such as diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough has also returned to pre-pandemic levels.
Efforts to eradicate polio have equally yielded significant results.
Since 1988, vaccination campaigns have prevented an estimated 1.57 million deaths and protected more than 20 million people from paralysis.
In 2025 alone, nearly 200 million children were vaccinated across high-risk regions such as the Lake Chad Basin and the Horn of Africa.
Despite these achievements, the WHO expressed concern over persistent gaps in vaccine coverage.
It revealed that about 6.7 million children in Africa have not received a single routine vaccine, while an additional 9.5 million remain under-immunized, many of them living in conflict-affected, impoverished or hard-to-reach communities.
The organization warned that ongoing measles outbreaks, cases of diphtheria, and the continued risk of vaccine-derived poliovirus transmission highlight the fragility of current gains.
At the midpoint of the Immunization Agenda 2030, the WHO said Africa must renew its commitment to expanding vaccine access, particularly in the face of declining external funding.
It urged countries to increase domestic investment and strengthen national ownership of immunization programmes.
Describing immunization as a cornerstone of primary healthcare and universal health coverage, the WHO emphasized its economic benefits, noting that every dollar invested in childhood vaccination in Africa yields an estimated 44 dollars in returns through improved productivity and reduced healthcare costs.
The organization also referenced a recent joint report with Gavi, which reviews two decades of immunization progress in Africa, identifies existing gaps, and outlines steps needed to achieve the 2030 targets.
The WHO Regional Director called on governments, partners, and communities to work collectively to ensure that the benefits of vaccines reach everyone, regardless of age or location.