A new analysis by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has revealed that measles vaccinations have averted nearly 20 million deaths in Africa since the year 2000, marking one of the most significant public health achievements on the continent.
The report shows that over 500 million children have been protected through routine immunisation programmes across Africa over the past two decades, significantly reducing the burden of vaccine-preventable diseases.
According to the findings, vaccination coverage has steadily improved, rising from just 5 per cent in 2000 to about 55 per cent today. During the same period, 44 African countries introduced a second dose of the measles vaccine into routine immunisation schedules, while large-scale supplementary campaigns delivered approximately 622 million additional vaccinations.
These efforts have helped cut measles deaths in the African region by half and reduced overall cases by about 40 per cent. The report also notes that nine countries recorded consistently low measles incidence in 2023 and 2024, while Cabo Verde, Mauritius and Seychelles were verified in 2025 as having eliminated measles and rubella — a historic first for sub-Saharan Africa.
Despite these gains, the WHO warns that Africa remains off track in meeting global immunisation targets under the 2030 Immunisation Agenda. Routine immunisation now protects against 13 diseases, compared to only eight in 2000, but coverage remains uneven across countries.
WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Janabi, said the continent has made “remarkable progress” but stressed that millions of children are still unprotected due to gaps in routine vaccination systems.
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He called for urgent strengthening of primary healthcare delivery to ensure no child is left behind.
The report also highlights broader health gains, including a nearly 40 per cent decline in meningitis deaths and the introduction of malaria vaccines in 25 countries. In 2024 alone, vaccination efforts saved an estimated 1.9 million lives, with measles immunisation accounting for 42 per cent of those lives saved.
WHO and Gavi urged continued political commitment and investment to sustain progress and expand access to newer vaccines, including those for malaria and HPV.
Gavi CEO Dr Sania Nishtar emphasized that while vaccines are highly effective, unequal access and fragile health systems continue to limit progress, especially in hard-to-reach communities.
