The World Health Organization (WHO) and immunization experts in the African Region have called on countries and health stakeholders to prioritize immunization services that have been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic even as they warned that falling immunization coverage could lead to outbreaks of other vaccine-preventable diseases.which convened virtually from 18-19 November 2020 to discuss the status of immunization in the region as well as preparedness for a future COVID-19 vaccine. The RITAG serves as the principal advisory group to the WHO on immunization policies and programmes in the African Region.
Speaking, WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, Said: “COVID-19 has disrupted the delivery of essential health services, including routine immunization. This puts people at risk of vaccine-preventable diseases and threatens the gains we have made to date. As we prepare for a COVID-19 vaccine, we must ensure that the life-saving vaccines we already have reached those most in need.” In 2019, immunization coverage in the African region stagnated at 74% for the third dose of the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis containing-vaccine (DTP3), and at 69% for the first dose of the measles vaccine – far below the regional target of 90%. These gaps in coverage have been exacerbated in 2020 by the COVID-19 pandemic, putting millions of children at risk for deadly diseases.
“Collective action to strengthen immunization is needed, now more than ever, as we approach the end of the Decade of Vaccines and COVID-19 limits access to essential health services across Africa,” stated Professor Helen Rees, Chair of the RITAG. The experts also stressed the need for countries to lay the groundwork for the introduction and delivery of an eventual COVID-19 vaccine, as an urgent priority. RITAG members urged WHO and partners to engage all relevant stakeholders in the vaccine preparedness process, including national leadership.
While research and development for a COVID-19 vaccine advance at an unprecedented pace, WHO has established the African COVID-19 Vaccine Readiness and Deployment Taskforce (ACREDT), which will work to assist countries in the region in planning for vaccine introduction, including obtaining regulatory approvals and defining priority groups and delivery strategies. WHO is collaborating with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) to co-lead the COVAX Facility – a global risk-sharing mechanism for pooled procurement and equitable distribution of eventual COVID-19 vaccines.
