CSO Statement of Support:

Preamble

Immunization is one of the most successful and cost-effective public health investments and saves millions of lives every year. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of African children receiving life-saving vaccines has declined at an alarming rate. Two years since the WHO African region was declared wild polio-free, variant outbreaks continue to spread in under-immunized communities across the continent.

To improve our people’s health, build strong and resilient health systems and advance toward the goal of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), we must ensure that everyone everywhere has access to immunization. This is why we, the undersigned, call on Heads of State and governments to renew their commitment to the 2017 Addis Declaration on Immunization (ADI), a historic pledge to ensure that everyone in Africa – regardless of who they are or where they live – receives the full benefits of immunization. 

In 2017, the essential value of immunization in saving millions of lives around the world and across the African continent was recognized through the Civil Society Declaration for Equitable Access to Immunization in Africa. Since then, some great strides have been made in increasing immunization rates, polio eradication and fighting vaccine-preventable diseases. Unfortunately due to COVID-19 related disruptions, 5 years later, we are still not close to our goal. 

This is why we, again, call on our leaders to prioritize measures and funding to address the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases as outlined in Immunization Agenda 2030, which was unanimously adopted by countries at the World Health Assembly in 2020. 

Given the severe drop in immunization rates, and the series of challenges facing the continent - from climate change and hunger to worsening insecurity and soaring inflation - now is the time to come together to focus attention and action on fighting disease outbreaks to protect the lives of our people. As leading civil society organizations and networks, working directly within our communities, we are uniquely positioned to help bridge the vaccination gap. By engaging communities, health services, governments, and partners across sectors, we can help improve child health and survival rates. 

We, the undersigned civil society groups, endorse the call by the Forum on Immunization and Polio Eradication in Africa to remobilize action around commitments made in the Addis Declaration on Immunization. In addition, we are willing and committed to ensuring accountability and assessing fidelity to the ADI commitments, and will continue to champion its goals alongside partners and governments. We recommit to the 10 principles of the Addis Declaration:

Addis Declaration on Immunization Commitments

1. Keep universal access to immunization at the forefront of efforts to reduce child mortality

2. Increase and sustain domestic investments and funding allocations for immunization

3. Address the persistent barriers in vaccine and healthcare delivery systems, especially in the poorest, vulnerable and most marginalized communities

4. Increase the effectiveness and efficiency of immunization delivery systems as an integrated part of strong and sustainable primary health care systems

5. Attain and maintain high quality surveillance for targeted vaccine preventable diseases

6. Monitor progress towards achieving the goals of the global and regional immunization plans

7. Ensure polio legacy transition plans are in place by end-2016

8. Develop a capacitated African research sector to enhance immunization implementation and uptake

9. Build broad political will for universal access to life-saving vaccines

10. Promote and invest in regional capacity for the development and production of vaccines