On the sidelines of the 38th African Union (AU) summit in Addis Ababa, African leaders demonstrated strong commitment to universal immunization as they gathered with partners and stakeholders to discuss progress toward continental goals.
Immunization is one of the most impactful and cost-effective public interventions available today. Unfortunately, more than 30 million children under five years old in Africa still suffer from vaccine-preventable diseases every year. That is why in 2017, the AU endorsed the Addis Declaration on Immunization (ADI), paving the way for accelerated implementation of immunization programs in Africa. The ADI included ten commitments to increase political, financial, and technical investments, while the companion implementation roadmap focused on three key strategies to ensure universal and equitable access to immunization—advocacy, access, and accountability.
Despite progress made over the last eight years, challenges such as unequal vaccine access and funding gaps persist. Urgent action, driven by strong political leadership, is needed now to make immunization a reality for every person who needs it, especially children.
The AU side session was hosted by HE Julius Maada Bio, President of Sierra Leone, and convened by the African Union Health Commission; PATH; Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; the World Health Organization; UNICEF; and other partners. It brought together leaders at the highest level to reaffirm Africa’s commitment to immunization by reviewing progress made on the ADI, identifying challenges faced in achieving universal immunization, and strengthening partnerships for immunization advocacy.
A key highlight was the presentation of the ADI progress report, which evaluated Africa’s achievement in increasing immunization coverage, improving vaccine equity, and sustaining political and financial commitment to immunization. While there have been improvements in key areas such as increasing political will, enhancing vaccine delivery systems, and improving polio eradication efforts, key findings from the ADI review indicate slow progress, with a modest 4 percent improvement in overall performance from 42 percent in 2016 to 46 percent in 2022.
This slow progress underscores the urgent need for accelerated action across the continent. Addressing this issue requires a concerted effort to identify and overcome barriers, strengthen health care systems, and foster robust partnerships to ensure that immunization goals are met and sustained.
Discussions during this event further emphasized the need for stronger political commitment, increased domestic financing, local vaccine production, youth-led advocacy, and public-private partnerships to reduce donor reliance. Building on Sierra Leone’s remarkable vaccination achievements in 2024, which saw the country achieve 95 percent coverage for measles, 97 percent for DPT3, and 71 percent for the newly introduced malaria vaccine, President Bio called for bold leadership, noting that a strong immunization system is fundamental for national security and that Africa cannot depend indefinitely on external funding.
“Africa’s immunization agenda must be owned and led by Africans today, with an urgency that cannot be overstated. It must be seen as a non-negotiable pillar of national security because without a healthy population, nothing else matters.”— HE Julius Maada Bio, President of Sierra Leone
PATH’s Dr. Emmanuel Mugisha as part of a panel discussion on strengthening partnerships for immunization advocacy at the high-level side session on reaffirming Africa’s commitment to immunization. Photo: UNICEF.
Dr. Emmanuel Mugisha, PATH Senior Technical Advisor on Immunizations, highlighted the crucial role of partnerships in boosting immunization progress across Africa. He emphasized the importance of weaving immunization financing into the broader frameworks of universal health coverage and primary health care funding. This integration, he argued, is essential for building long-term resilience within health systems.
Dr. Mugisha also stressed the need for robust advocacy to secure full replenishment for Gavi’s next strategic period. Adequate funding, he explained, is vital for expanding vaccine coverage and bolstering Africa’s capacity to manufacture its own vaccines. Gavi’s model, which includes co-financing by recipient countries, increases ownership and sustainability.
Furthermore, he underscored the necessity of strengthening accountability mechanisms to ensure commitments to immunization are met and hard-won gains are protected. He concluded by highlighting PATH’s multistakeholder approach, which brings together political will, technical expertise, and financial resources to accelerate immunization progress throughout Africa.
This event underscored the critical need for collective action to achieve immunization goals. While progress has been made since the adoption of the ADI, the slow pace of improvement demands urgent action. Africa cannot afford setbacks. To close the immunization gap for all Africans, we must turn renewed commitments into action.
