8 hours Ago By Roger A. Agana
News Ghana, Latest Updates and Breaking News of Ghana, Roger A. Agana, https://newsghana.com.
gh/african-vaccination-drive-saves-millions-of-lives/In 2023, routine immunization efforts across Africa prevented at least 1.8 million deaths nearly half of the 4.2 million lives saved globally by protecting against measles, polio and cervical cancer.
Governments, together with partners such as Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; UNICEF; and the World Health Organization, have driven this progress through coordinated campaigns and expanded outreach.Since its launch in 2023, the “Big Catch-Up” initiative has reached over 5 million zero-dose children those who had never received a routine vaccine in 20 priority countries. By closing these immunity gaps, the program has not only halted outbreaks before they spread but also strengthened fragile health systems in communities long underserved by vaccination services.
Amid a rising birth cohort between 2022 and 2023, the region recorded a rise in diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis third-dose coverage among one-year-olds from 72 percent to 74 percent. This two-point increase marks a recovery in routine immunization following the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic and demonstrates that more children are being vaccinated each year than ever before.Efforts to protect adolescent girls have also seen remarkable gains.
Human papillomavirus vaccination coverage for at least one dose climbed to 40 percent in 2023, up from 28 percent in 2022, making Africa the region with the world’s second-highest HPV uptake. This achievement promises to avert thousands of new cervical cancer cases by empowering girls with life-saving protection.The battle against polio has made significant headway as well, with circulating variant poliovirus type 1 cases declining by 93 percent from 2023 to 2024 and falling 65 percent in the past year alone.
Such milestones have brought the continent closer to eradicating a disease that once paralyzed thousands yearly.This progress is celebrated during World Immunization Week and African Vaccination Week under the banner “Immunization For All Is Humanly Possible,” a reminder that universal vaccine access remains within reach at every age.“We have made great progress in expanding vaccination and saving lives, thanks to the dedication of governments and partners But we still have more ground to cover We must sustain and expand these life-saving efforts to build a stronger, healthier future for all,” said Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Acting WHO Regional Director for Africa.
Despite these advances, one in four children remains under-vaccinated and one in five unvaccinated, leaving populations vulnerable to recurring measles outbreaks and other preventable illnesses. Barriers such as conflict-related instability, logistical hurdles in remote areas, vaccine misinformation and funding shortfalls continue to hinder full coverage.“The progress seen across African countries bolstered by an unprecedented record of co-financing toward vaccine programmes in 2024 by African governments demonstrates the tangible impact of sustained commitment,” said Thabani Maphosa, Chief Country Delivery Officer at Gavi.
“However, this momentum must not stall. Conflict, population growth, displacement and natural disasters are creating ideal conditions for outbreaks. Investing in immunization and securing sufficient funding for Gavi’s next five-year strategy is essential to protect our collective future.
”Gavi 6.0, launched this year, aims to guard against pandemics, expand protection against more diseases including reaching 50 million children with a malaria vaccine by 2030 and reduce the number of zero-dose children. As 2025 marks the midpoint of the Immunization Agenda 2030, stakeholders are urged to accelerate zero-dose reduction, scale up routine coverage, introduce malaria vaccines and widen HPV access.
To cement these gains, governments must invest in health infrastructure, enhance surveillance, address hesitancy, bolster domestic immunization funding, leverage innovative delivery technologies and drive vaccine research. In parallel, the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator, backed by up to US $1.2 billion over ten years, has forged new partnerships to grow commercial vaccine production on the continent, reinforcing long-term health security.
By maintaining this collective resolve and ensuring consistent funding, strategic collaboration and community engagement African nations stand poised to protect their children and communities against preventable diseases for generations to come. News Ghana, Latest Updates and Breaking News of Ghana, Roger A. Agana, https://newsghana.
com.gh/african-vaccination-drive-saves-millions-of-lives/.
