By Ebi Kesiena
African heads of state on Sunday agreed on key measures to revamp routine immunization across the continent following massive disruptions by the COVID-19 pandemic that stymied childhood vaccination programmes and heightened outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases.
A total of 8.4 million children in the African region, compared with 18 million globally, were left out by immunization services in 2021, according to estimates by UNICEF and World Health Organization (WHO).
While access to immunization services is even more difficult among poor or marginalized communities or those rendered vulnerable by conflicts or living in fragile settings.
At a high-level event on the side-lines of the 36th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, the leaders endorsed a declaration on building momentum for routine immunization recovery in Africa which aims to revitalize the momentum for all populations to have universal access to immunization to reduce mortality, morbidity and disability, and consequently help Member States to achieve their health SDGs and economic and development goals.
According to H.E. Dr Julius Maada Bio, President of Sierra Leone it is possible to achieve the national and global immunization targets including eradication and elimination goals.
‘‘in meeting immunization targets, we believe, is a driver for equitable health outcomes for children, mothers and the population as a whole.
“We believe as a government that the returns on investment for immunization are very high for our progress towards meeting the SDGs.” He said.
Furthermore, the Government of Sierra Leone and World Health Organization (WHO), also called for urgent measures to “address persistent bottlenecks in vaccine and healthcare delivery systems, especially in the poorest, vulnerable and most marginalized communities.”
Across the continent, immunization coverage for many vaccine-preventable diseases is well below the 90-95% range needed to keep Africa free of these diseases.
In 2021, the median vaccination coverage for measles was 69%; while for diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis coverage was 82.5%; and 81.5% for the third dose of the polio vaccine.
