Factsheet
Over the last few decades, countries across Africa have increased access to routine immunization for millions of children and introduced new vaccines to combat vaccine-preventable diseases.
Basic immunization coverage (DTP3) reached
76%
on the continent in 2019, an impressive increase from 9% in 1980 and 56% in 2000.
54
African countries introduced at least one new vaccine into their routine immunization programs since 2000, according to WHO.
Between 2000 and 2021, there were more than 320 introductions of 9 vaccines into routine immunization programs across the Africa continent including hepatitis B, Hib, Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV), 2nd dose of the Measles-Containing Vaccine (MCV2), mumps vaccine, rubella vaccine, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) and the rotavirus vaccine.
Additional vaccination campaigns during this time include COVID-19, typhoid, Meningococcal (MenA) and yellow fever.
Since 2000
45
African countries have introduced the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV).
22
African countries have introduced the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.
41
African countries have introduced the rotavirus vaccine.
In 2016, the African continent recorded its last indigenous case of wild poliovirus in Nigeria, with all
47
member states in the WHO African Region being certified wild polio-free in 2020.
Since rollout began in March 2021, over 500M doses of the next-generation polio vaccine, nOPV2, have been delivered across 22 African countries to help more sustainably stop outbreaks of variant poliovirus.
The COVID-19 pandemic set back gains in immunization around the world, with immunization rates falling to levels last seen nearly a decade ago.
Every country in the world experienced disruptions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a total of
25M
children missing out on vaccination in 2021 across the world.
In Africa, coverage of the 3rd dose of Diphtheria, Tetanus toxoid and Pertussis vaccine (DTP3) - the standard measure of basic vaccination coverage - declined from 76% in 2019 to
73%
in 2021, the lowest coverage level since 2013.
The four-month suspension of polio vaccination campaigns in at least
16
African countries in 2020 due to COVID-19 led to tens of millions of children missing polio vaccines and contributed to the spread of variant poliovirus outbreaks across many African countries.
As of November 2022, 24 different African countries are affected by polio outbreaks.
In 2019, coverage of Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) reached 75% in Africa. It has since declined to 73% in 2021.
After the vaccine was introduced in Africa in 2009, coverage of the 3rd dose of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV3) on the African continent reached an all-time high
66%
in 2018, before falling to 65% in 2020 and 63% in 2021.
Deadly outbreaks of other vaccine-preventable diseases like cholera are also surging in several African countries.
Measles first dose coverage (MCV1) on the African continent has declined from 73% in 2019 to
70%
in 2021. WHO recently reported that measles is an imminent threat in every region of the world, with 9 million cases and 128,000 deaths across the world last year.
Despite the challenges of delivering health services during a global pandemic, African countries have simultaneously shown impressive resilience in ensuring access to vaccination since 2020.
After COVID-19-related disruptions,
two-thirds
of Gavi-supported African countries have either recovered to pre-pandemic levels or begun to increase immunization coverage again.
At least
22
African countries have introduced a vaccine into their national routine immunization program since the pandemic began in 2020.
Introductions were launched in Cabo Verde and Equatorial Guinea, as well as in the following countries with support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance: Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Cote d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, and Zimbabwe.
Coverage for the rubella vaccine increased in Africa from 36% in 2019 to
38%
in 2021.
Countries in Africa, including Senegal and South Africa, are working to expand their vaccine manufacturing capacity
While a strain of wild poliovirus originating in Pakistan was detected in Malawi and Mozambique earlier this year, coordinated and timely outbreak response efforts are critical for stopping the spread of this imported outbreak and protecting Africa’s progress against polio.
In 2017, African Heads of State endorsed the Addis Declaration on Immunization at the 28th African Union Summit, committing to advance universal access to immunization across Africa. The ten commitments of the Addis Declaration are:
Keep universal access to immunization at the forefront of efforts to reduce child mortality.
Address the persistent barriers in vaccine and healthcare delivery systems, especially in the poorest, vulnerable and most marginalized communities.
Attain and maintain high quality surveillance for targeted vaccine preventable diseases.
Ensure polio legacy transition plans are in place by end of 2016.
Build broad political will for universal access to life-saving vaccines.
Increase and sustain domestic investments and funding allocations for immunization.
Increase the effectiveness and efficiency of immunization delivery systems as an integrated part of strong and sustainable primary health care systems.
Monitor progress towards achieving the goals of the global and regional immunization plans.
Develop a capacitated African research sector to enhance immunization implementation and uptake.
Promote and invest in regional capacity for the development and production of vaccines.
The Forum on Immunization and Polio Eradication in Africa on December 10 presents a critical opportunity for African leaders to come together to reaffirm the commitments made in the Addis Declaration and strengthen immunization across the continent.
Devastating setbacks in vaccine coverage signal a critical turning point. We urgently must renew the commitment to restore and strengthen immunization on the African continent.
All stakeholders will be encouraged to champion policies and measures that aim to:
Galvanize political will and commitment to invest the resources needed to restore and sustain immunization services and end all forms of polio in Africa.
Encourage African leaders to renew their commitment to the Addis Declaration to drive action through 2023.
Build political support to advocate for equity in immunization, including for vulnerable communities and zero-dose children.
Promote and invest in regional capacity for vaccine development and production, in line with the Addis Declaration on Immunization.
For more information about national coverage rates, visit WHO’s Immunization Portal.
