World Immunisation Week, celebrated annually during the last week of April, unites the global immunisation community in recognising the transformative power of vaccines in saving lives.
Vaccination against vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) remains one of the most successful public health interventions in history. However, despite their incredible impact, immunisation coverage has plateaued over the last decade.
The World Health Organisation (2022) attributes this stagnation partly to the Covid-19 pandemic, which has disrupted and strained health systems worldwide. Other factors, such as vaccine inequity, conflict, and a knowledge gap among caregivers, have also hindered access and utilisation of immunisation services.
Africa continues to lag behind the rest of the world in vaccine access, with approximately one in five African children missing out on basic vaccines. Consequently, the Centre for Disease Control (2023) reports that over 30 million children under five in Africa suffer from VPDs annually. In Kenya, though immunisation coverage has been on an upward trend since 2008, regional disparities remain, with the national immunisation coverage in 2022 standing at 80 per cent.
I have worked with Amref Health Africa in Kenya for over a decade to improve children's access to immunisation services. Amref has implemented targeted interventions, including strengthening supply chains, building health workers' capacity, supporting integrated outreach services in underserved areas, and using service delivery data to set immunisation targets.
Amref has also promoted demand for vaccines through community-level awareness campaigns, engaging community health volunteers, and deploying innovative models for immunisation defaulter tracing and adverse events following Immunisation monitoring.
While these efforts have undoubtedly had an impact, optimal vaccine uptake remains low due to missed opportunities and various challenges. Inadequate human resources for health often lead to inconsistent vaccine provision at tier 2 and 3 health facilities. Moreover, cases of zero-dose children contribute to sporadic measles outbreaks in the country. Vaccine stockouts, knowledge gaps among caregivers, and the vastness of some regions also hinder timely vaccine uptake.
In line with this year's World Immunisation Week theme, I urge all partners to act now to raise community awareness, improve access to vaccines, and advocate for increased human resources. By doing so, we can work towards a world where everyone, everywhere, is protected from VPDs.
First, to address the knowledge gap among caregivers, we must invest in educational campaigns that emphasize the importance of vaccination and adherence to return dates for optimal antigen utilization.
Second, we need to address vaccine stockouts and supply chain challenges. This can be achieved by strengthening the supply chain infrastructure, improving vaccine forecasting, and adopting innovative solutions, such as drone deliveries to hard-to-reach areas. Third, we must prioritise investment in human resources for health. Governments and partners must commit to financing health workforce development in order to ensure an adequate and skilled workforce.
Lastly, we must tackle vaccine inequity head-on. International partners, including donor agencies and pharmaceutical companies, have a moral obligation to ensure that vaccines are equitably distributed across the globe. This can be achieved through initiatives such as Covax, which aims to provide vaccines to low- and middle-income countries. Additionally, governments should prioritise investing in domestic vaccine manufacturing to reduce dependency on imports.
In conclusion, World Immunisation Week 2023 serves as a reminder of the lifesaving power of vaccines and the urgent need to bridge the vaccine gap in Africa. The Covid-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of global health security and the role that vaccines play in safeguarding our collective well-being.
So, as we mark World Immunization Week 2023, let us reaffirm our commitment to building a world where every child has the opportunity to grow up healthy, safe, and free from preventable diseases.
- The writer is Programme Manager, FP/MNCH& Nutrition, Amref Health Africa, Kenya
