As Nigeria joins other African nations to commemorate African Vaccination Week 2025, the World Health Organization has expressed deep concern over persistently low immunization coverage across the continent, disclosing that one in every five African children remains under-vaccinated.
The annual event, observed from April 24 to 30 alongside World Immunization Week, serves as a platform to raise awareness about the importance of vaccines and to mobilize action toward improving access.
In a statement marking the occasion, WHO’s Acting Regional Director for Africa, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, called on African leaders to intensify efforts to expand vaccine access.
“Immunization is not only one of the most effective public health tools; it is a fundamental right, a shared responsibility, and a vital investment in our future,” Ihekweazu said.
According to WHO, vaccines have saved an estimated 154 million lives globally over the past 50 years, leading to a 40 per cent drop in infant mortality and providing protection against over 30 life-threatening diseases. Despite these achievements, millions of African children still lack access to routine immunization.
In 2023 alone, 6.7 million children across Africa received no vaccines whatsoever, falling into the “zero-dose” category. The continent also continues to grapple with measles outbreaks and persistent threats from vaccine-derived polioviruses.
This year’s African Vaccination Week is themed: “Immunization for all is humanly possible”, a clarion call for governments and stakeholders to recommit to reaching every child, strengthening health systems, and restoring routine immunization programmes disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The week also marks the halfway point in the global Immunization Agenda 2030, a commitment to achieving equitable access to vaccines for all by the end of the decade. WHO stressed the urgency of closing immunity gaps and accelerating progress toward these goals.
“WHO and partners are working closely with countries to identify and reach zero-dose children, integrate immunization into primary health care, and build stronger, more resilient health systems,” the statement added.
Significant progress has been recorded in the fight against vaccine-derived polio. WHO reported a 93 per cent reduction in cases of circulating variant poliovirus type 1 and a 65 per cent drop in cVDPV2 cases between 2023 and 2024. These gains offer a glimpse of hope for eradication, particularly in high-risk areas like the Lake Chad Basin and the Horn of Africa.
Earlier this year, in February 2025, a high-level side event co-hosted by WHO, the African Union Commission, the Government of Sierra Leone, Africa CDC, Gavi, and UNICEF reviewed progress made since the 2017 Addis Declaration on Immunization. While participants acknowledged improvements in political commitment and health systems, they also identified ongoing challenges such as funding shortfalls, inequities, and data system weaknesses.
The meeting concluded with a renewed pledge to prioritise immunisation across all health and development frameworks on the continent.
WHO reaffirmed its dedication to ensuring that every child, in every community and country, gains access to life-saving vaccines. It maintained that immunisation remains the foundation of public health and a vital shield against preventable diseases.
