The findings come in the first ever detailed analysis of immunization targets in Africa, published on Wednesday by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
It also documents progress and challenges in expanding immunization coverage against a wide range of vaccine-preventable diseases, as well as ongoing efforts to achieve goals under a global strategy known as the 2030 Immunization Agenda.
Measles deaths are halved
The analysis covers the years from 2000 to 2024, which saw increased vaccination coverage in Africa, as 44 countries introduced a second dose of measles-containing vaccine into routine programs.
Coverage increased from five percent to 55 percent during this period while supplemental inoculation campaigns delivered 622 million vaccinations.
Together, this effort has halved measles deaths in the African region and led to a 40 percent drop in total cases.
In addition, nine countries reported consistently low measles incidence in 2023 and 2024, while Cabo Verde, Mauritius and Seychelles were verified by 2025 to have eliminated measles and rubella – the first sub-Saharan African countries to reach this milestone.
Remarkable but uneven progress
“Africa has made remarkable progress in less than a generation, expanding immunization and saving millions of young lives,” said Dr. Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director.
“But progress is uneven and even slower, leaving too many children unprotected as key targets are still missed. We must urgently strengthen routine immunization to leave no child behind.”
Routine plans currently protect against 13 vaccine-preventable diseases, compared with eight in the year 2000.
Since then, meningitis deaths have fallen by almost 40 per centthe malaria vaccine has been introduced in 25 countries, and at least 1.9 million lives were saved through vaccination alone by 2024— about 42 percent due to measles vaccination.
‘More work to do’
The 2030 Agenda envisions a world where all people benefit fully from vaccines. It aims for 90 percent coverage at four key life stages to protect against diphtheria, whooping cough (whooping cough), measles and human papillomavirus (HPV).
Despite the progress made so far, Africa is still off track when it comes to reaching the 90 percent target as vaccination coverage is uneven and many children are still missing.
WHO and Gavi call for continued investment and strong political commitment to sustain gains and protect future generations.
They are also working with governments to expand vaccination coverage, including to accelerate and scale up the introduction of new vaccines such as those against malaria and HPV.
The new analysis “demonstrates the tremendous life-saving power of vaccines when immunization is prioritized as a matter of policy,” said Dr. Sania Nishtar, Gavi CEO.
“At the same time we must recognize that these immunization results reflect very different realities and we have more work to do to ensure that we are consistently able to reach children, even in the most fragile and remote settings,” she added.
