The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that about 9.5 million children in Africa remain under-immunised due to poverty and conflict, while 6.7 million children in the region have not received a single routine vaccine.

The Regional Director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Janabi, disclosed this in a message to mark the 2026 African Vaccination Week, noting that immunisation remains one of the most effective public health interventions, protecting people at all stages of life.

He added that vaccines prevent about 1.8 million deaths every year across the continent, underscoring their life-saving impact.

Janabi said vaccination has protected approximately 500 million African children since 2000, while newer interventions such as the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine are helping to prevent cervical cancer among adolescent girls. He also noted that maternal vaccines are safeguarding mothers and newborns, while booster doses continue to strengthen immunity into adulthood.

He stated that several African countries are making progress through innovation in vaccine delivery, including the use of digital immunisation records, solar-powered cold chain systems in remote areas, and stronger community engagement to improve vaccine uptake. In addition, malaria vaccines are being rolled out in 25 countries, marking a major step in the fight against one of Africa’s deadliest diseases.

Janabi pointed to a milestone recorded in December 2025, when Cabo Verde, Mauritius, and Seychelles became the first countries in the WHO African Region to eliminate measles and rubella, following verification by the African Regional Verification Commission.

According to him, efforts to close immunisation gaps have gained momentum through the Big Catch-Up initiative, which has reached nearly 8.75 million children who previously missed routine vaccinations. He added that coverage for diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough has rebounded to pre-COVID-19 levels.

On polio, he said vaccination campaigns since 1988 have prevented an estimated 1.57 million deaths and averted paralysis in over 20 million people. In the Lake Chad Basin and the Horn of Africa alone, nearly 200 million children were vaccinated last year through coordinated cross-border efforts.

Janabi noted that countries are demonstrating what is possible through innovation, with digital records helping to track schedules, solar-powered refrigerators preserving vaccines in remote clinics, and community leaders working with health services to reach more families.

He said, “In 25 countries, malaria vaccines are being introduced as a powerful new tool against a long-standing threat. Yet we must also be honest about the challenges. Around 6.7 million children in the region have not received a single routine vaccine, while a further 9.5 million remain under-immunised.”

He, however, noted that immunisation efforts face challenges due to dwindling funding and disruptions caused by conflicts.

Janabi stressed that for Africa to stay on track toward the 2030 immunisation target, countries must deepen domestic resource mobilisation and strengthen national ownership of immunisation programmes.

He warned that ongoing measles outbreaks, the threat of vaccine-derived poliovirus, and recent diphtheria cases highlight the risk of reversing hard-won progress.

“Immunisation is not a stand-alone programme. It is a pillar of primary health care and a foundation of universal health coverage,” he said, urging countries to increase domestic financing and ownership of vaccination programmes.

Janabi also emphasised that immunisation remains a high-return investment, noting that every dollar spent on childhood vaccines in Africa yields an estimated $44 in economic benefits through reduced healthcare costs and improved productivity.

He called on governments, partners, and communities to intensify collaboration to ensure that the benefits of vaccines reach everyone, regardless of age or location.