Posted on: Wed 23-04-2025

Absolutely! Here's a suggestive opinion-style rewrite of the piece that blends factual information with thoughtful reflection and forward-looking suggestions:

 

The World Health Organisation's recent revelation that vaccines have saved over 154 million lives in the last 50 years should be front-page news across every nation. Not only has vaccination reduced infant mortality by 40%, but it has also helped protect millions from over 30 deadly diseases, including dramatic declines in polio variants.

But beyond the celebrations and statistical triumphs lies a sobering reality: Africa is still struggling to catch up. One in every five children across the continent remains under-vaccinated. And in 2023 alone, 6.7 million African children received no vaccine at all. These are the “zero-dose” children — vulnerable, invisible, and left behind.

While Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, Acting WHO Regional Director for Africa, rightly called immunisation a “fundamental right” and a “vital investment in our future,” the region’s numbers tell a different story — one of gaps, neglect, and systemic inequities that must be addressed with urgency.

Yes, the strides are commendable. The African region saw a 93% drop in circulating variant poliovirus type 1 and a 65% reduction in type 2 between 2023 and 2024. This proves that eradication is not just a dream — it's possible. But progress is uneven and fragile, especially in high-risk areas like the Lake Chad Basin and the Horn of Africa.

This brings us to a crossroads. We’ve reached the midpoint of the Immunisation Agenda 2030, yet too many communities remain unreachable — or worse, unseen. If Africa hopes to truly rewrite its public health narrative, then immunisation must become more than just a health intervention. It must be a continental priority, embedded in education, funding, and governance.

So where do we go from here?

Governments must step up. The call is clear: increase domestic investment in immunisation, integrate vaccines into primary healthcare, and make vaccines readily available — not just in urban hospitals, but in the most rural communities.

Global partners must hold the line. While commendable efforts are underway — from the “Big Catch-Up” to new vaccines for malaria and HPV — sustained support and targeted investments are essential to ensure that these initiatives reach the children who need them most.

Communities must be engaged. Fighting misinformation and rebuilding trust in vaccines must become a shared mission. Local voices — especially health workers, teachers, and religious leaders — need to lead the conversation around vaccine safety and the future it promises.

Data must be taken seriously. Weak data systems often lead to poor planning and missed opportunities. Investing in accurate, timely, and community-driven data will be key to closing immunisation gaps and ensuring accountability.

The theme of African Vaccination Week 2025, “Immunisation for All is Humanly Possible,” couldn’t be more apt. Because it is possible — if we choose to act. The question isn’t whether vaccines work. The evidence is overwhelming. The question is whether we are doing enough to make them work for everyone.

If 154 million lives have already been saved, imagine how many more could be — if no child, no community, no country in Africa is left behind.

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