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1 billion people in Africa to be vaccinated against yellow fever
WHO announced today that by 2026, approximately 1 billion people in 27 high-risk African countries will be vaccinated against yellow fever.
With support from WHO, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF and more than 50 health partners, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, MD, director-general of WHO, along with Isaac Folorunso Adewole, MBBS, Nigeria’s minister of health, and other partners, launched the Eliminate Yellow fever Epidemics (EYE) in Africa strategy. According to a press release, the EYE strategy was endorsed by the African Ministers of Health at the 67th WHO regional committee in September 2017.
Yellow fever has become a “serious global public health threat,” causing 400 deaths in Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2016, according to WHO. The world health agency suggests the ease and speed of population movements, rapid urbanization and a resurgence of mosquitos due to global warming has led to an increased risk of urban outbreaks as well as international spread. Currently, Brazil has more than 1,000 confirmed cases of the disease, according to the release.
WHO said effective lab networks and strong surveillance are imperative for the EYE strategy’s three objectives, which include preventive mass vaccinations campaigns and routine immunization programs; the prevention of international spread; and rapid containment of outbreaks.
When yellow fever re-emerged in West Africa in the 2000s, the epidemic was controlled through means similar to the EYE strategy, according to WHO. In countries where preventive mass campaigns and routine immunization were implemented, no new outbreaks were recorded, demonstrating that these approaches can work, the release said.
“The world is facing an increased risk of yellow fever outbreaks, and Africa is particularly vulnerable,” Tedros said in the release. “With one injection, we can protect a person for life against this dangerous pathogen. This unprecedented commitment by countries will ensure that by 2026 Africa is free of yellow fever epidemics.” – by Marley Ghizzone
Disclosures: Adewole is the minister of health of Nigeria. Tedros is director-general of WHO.