Deputy Health Minister Hails New Continental Immunisation Strategy to Boost Africa’s Health Security 

Ghana’s Deputy Minister for Health, Prof Grace Ayensu-Danquah, has described the launch of the Continental Immunisation Strategy (CIS) as the beginning of “a new era for immunisation in Africa”.

According to her, the CIS is a blueprint designed to transform Africa’s health security by setting out how the continent will finance, deliver, and sustain immunisation and aims to ensure that no child is left behind.

Citing data shared at the launch, she said vaccines saved an estimated 1.8 million lives in Africa last year, though nearly 8 million children across the continent still missed their first dose of routine vaccines.

The strategy sets ambitious, time-bound targets to close these gaps and build resilient immunisation systems across all African Union Member States, she reported in a Facebook post.

“A new era for immunisation in Africa begins,” the Deputy Minister stated. “Together, we are advancing a healthier, safer Africa — one vaccine at a time.”

She joined the Africa CDC, African Union, World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and PATH to unveil the strategy at the World Health Summit in Nairobi on Tuesday.

The launch brought together health leaders, policymakers, and development partners to discuss Africa’s health priorities.

The Continental Immunisation Strategy is expected to strengthen domestic financing for vaccines, improve last-mile delivery, and enhance data systems to track immunisation coverage across the continent.

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