From August 26-30, 2024, the Countdown to 2030 project on Immunization Coverage and Inequalities held its first annual multi-country analytical workshop in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The workshop gathered over 50 experts, including researchers, academics, and public health professionals, from 26 countries across Sub-Saharan Africa to address the critical issues of vaccine coverage and inequalities.
The event, organized in collaboration with key partners such as GAVI, WHO, UNICEF, and the Institut National de Santé Publique (INSP) of Côte d’Ivoire, aimed to support national teams in finalizing and synthesizing their data analyses. The workshop focused on developing national and subnational estimates for routine immunization indicators and formulating strategic recommendations to accelerate immunization coverage.
The opening ceremony was chaired by Professor Kountélé Gona Soro, Director of Cabinet for the Côte d’Ivoire Ministry of Health, who emphasized the importance of evidence-based decision-making in public health. Professor Soro expressed his gratitude to Countdown 2030 and its partners for implementing this crucial multi-country project on immunization coverage, describing it as an invaluable decision-making tool. He also reaffirmed the commitment of decision-makers to integrate the evidence and recommendations emerging from the workshop into their policies.
Dr. Cheikh M. Faye, Director of Countdown 2030, highlighted the urgency of addressing inequalities in vaccine access, stressing the need for collaborative efforts to ensure more equitable health outcomes. “Over the next few days, we will work together to develop comprehensive national and subnational estimates for key routine immunization indicators, enrich our analytical capacities, and lay the groundwork for more equitable health outcomes across the region,” he stated.
Dr. Martin Mutua, the project manager, emphasized the significance of this meeting in bringing together the 26 Countdown member countries to address challenges related to immunization coverage and inequalities.
Mrs. Danovaro Carolina, representing WHO, underscored that “Access to vaccination is a fundamental right to health, especially for vulnerable groups such as women, newborns, children, and adolescents.”
She emphasized the importance of not only ensuring access to vaccines but also maintaining continuity in vaccination schedules.
Dr. George Mwinnyaa, representing UNICEF, pointed out that Africa has the highest number of under-vaccinated individuals globally. He stressed the importance of reliable subnational data to address this challenge and emphasized understanding the disparities in vaccine coverage across African countries. Dr. Mwinnyaa also expressed UNICEF’s enthusiasm for being part of this initiative, viewing it as a decisive step toward solving the problem of immunization coverage in Africa.
Mr. Dan Hogan from the GAVI Alliance highlighted the workshop as a pivotal step in strengthening collaboration, particularly in bringing together country immunization program experts to analyze both national and subnational data. He noted, “From the GAVI perspective, this is crucial for supporting countries in identifying districts that need more help reaching zero-dose children, monitoring progress at various levels, and determining the number of vaccine doses required each year.”
Mr. William Yavo, Director General of INSP, extended his appreciation for hosting the multi-country workshop in Côte d’Ivoire. He praised the strong collaboration with the implementing partner, APHRC, and other technical and financial partners, underscoring the collective effort to advance the Countdown 2030 program in the region.