New strategy to target Africa’s declining vaccination rates
The Africa CDC has launched a new immunization strategy for 2026-2030 to address declining vaccination rates and persistent health inequities across the continent. The plan focuses on sustainable financing, digital systems, and community engagement to combat rising outbreaks of preventable diseases.
Why it matters
Improving vaccination infrastructure is essential for public health stability and child survival rates in Africa amid growing population and economic pressures.
Africa has reached an important moment in its immunisation journey, with coverage not rising fast enough to keep pace with population growth; persistent inequities, and a growing number of vaccines. At the same time, outbreaks and financing pressures are intensifying.
Recently, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) launched the Continental Immunisation Strategy 2026-2030 , and one of the contributors to this, Charles Shey Wiysonge, explains in The Conversation how certain priorities apply to the areas highlighted in the strategy, and their importance.
Vaccination has transformed child survival. A landmark analysis found that global immunisation efforts have saved at least 154m lives over the past 50 years, 52m of them in Africa.
Vaccines have virtually eliminated meningitis A epidemics and eradicated wild poliovirus from Africa.
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