Oluwatobi Adu 
ABUJA, Nigeria – African health leaders have called for stronger domestic financing and political commitment to immunisation programmes, warning that millions of children across the continent still lack access to life-saving vaccines despite decades of progress.
The appeal came as Africa Vaccination Week 2026 concluded under the theme, “For Every Generation, Vaccines Work,” with health officials highlighting both major achievements and persistent gaps in vaccine coverage.
In a joint statement issued in Brazzaville on Wednesday, health leaders said vaccines prevented an estimated 1.9 million deaths across Africa in 2024 alone, while more than 51 million lives have been saved through immunisation programmes over the past five decades.
The report showed that measles vaccination coverage increased from 43 per cent in 2022 to 55 per cent in 2024, reflecting gradual improvements in routine immunisation services.
Health officials also highlighted Africa’s expanding role in vaccine innovation, particularly the introduction of the world’s first malaria vaccines in 25 countries.
The vaccines are expected to reduce child deaths linked to malaria, which continues to claim the life of nearly one African child every minute.
Africa has also maintained its wild poliovirus-free status since 2020, marking one of the continent’s major public health achievements.
According to the report, 6.7 million children received no routine vaccines in 2024, while another 2.8 million children remained under-immunised.
The burden is highest in conflict-affected and fragile countries, where weak health systems and inadequate funding continue to expose children to outbreaks of measles, cholera and meningitis.
About the Author
Hussaini Ibrahim 
Edino Chubiyo Cornelius 
