Africa vaccination programmes save millions, WHO warns US aid cuts could slow progress

Immunisation drives across Africa have saved tens of millions of lives, but gains are slowing in some countries, the World Health Organisation said on Wednesday. The agency also warned that cuts to United States aid could leave millions of children without protection. The WHO said health systems now face rising financial and supply risks in many parts of the region.

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The WHO linked this uncertainty to the United States pullback from global health funding. The shift followed President Donald Trumps America First policy. The agency also pointed to disruptions tied to the war in the Middle East. It said those pressures are straining aid budgets and supply chains across the continent.

WHO vaccination programmes in Africa show large impact

In its first comprehensive analysis of immunisation in Africa, the WHO said routine vaccination has reached more than 500 million children since 2000. The agency said this effort prevents over 4 million deaths each year. It added that vaccines have saved more than 50 million lives in Africa over five decades.

The WHO estimated an added benefit from those gains. It said vaccines delivered an estimated 60 years of life expectancy for each infant life saved. For 2024 alone, the agency said vaccines saved nearly 2 million lives. It also cited the eradication of wild poliovirus in 2020 as a historic milestone.

WHO vaccination programmes in Africa expand to malaria vaccines

The WHO said maternal and neonatal tetanus has been eliminated in most countries. It also highlighted progress on malaria prevention through vaccines. Malaria kills more than 400,000 people a year, mostly children under five in Africa. The WHO said malaria vaccines are now being introduced in 25 countries.

Mohamed Janabi, the WHO regional director for Africa, described this shift during an online press briefing. Janabi called it "a major scientific and public health breakthrough during an online press briefing.\" Janabi also said progress is not equal across countries. Janabi warned it is \"uneven and in some places really slowing\".

WHO vaccination programmes in Africa face gaps after COVID-19

Janabi said the COVID-19 pandemic raised the number of children who never received a single vaccine. Janabi said ten countries account for 80% of children who have not received any vaccine in the region. Janabi described this as a \"profound equity issue.\" The WHO did not list the ten countries.

Sania Nishtar, chief executive of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, said results vary widely between settings. Nishtar said, \"These immunisation outcomes reflect very different realities, and we have more work to do to ensure we are consistently able to reach children, even in the most fragile and remote contexts,\". Gavi works with WHO on vaccination efforts.

WHO vaccination programmes in Africa hit by US aid cuts

Janabi said aid cuts since Trump returned to the White House in 2025 have been \"devastating\". Janabi said the US withdrawal from WHO in January removed about 40% of the agency’s overseas development funding. Janabi urged African governments to increase domestic health financing. Janabi said this could reduce the impact.

Adelheid Onyango, the WHO Africa director for health systems and services, raised another concern. Onyango said, \"The US-Iran war, which has disrupted supply chains and increased gas prices, is concerning for a continent where many of our facilities depend on generators,\". Onyango said the agency has not yet quantified the war’s impact.

WHO vaccination programmes in Africa threatened by funding pressure

Shabir Madhi, a professor of vaccinology and a dean at the University of the Witwatersrand, said money is now the biggest threat. Madhi said this risk rises as the US and other Western donors reduce aid to poorer countries. Madhi warned that weakened budgets can undermine routine coverage and future vaccine roll-outs.

Madhi said some aid-funded programmes have already reduced services or closed. That has cut access to clinics, health workers, cold-chain infrastructure, and outreach services. These supports often keep vaccination campaigns running. Madhi said, \"It cant be that we continue relying on the likes of Gavi Vaccine Alliance, which has done a tremendous amount of work in terms of ensuring that theres increasing uptake of new vaccines,\".

Madhi said the Gavi Vaccine Alliance is also facing a financial crunch. Madhi said, \"What we need to start putting on the table is what percentage of the immunisation programme should be funded by countries... to ensure that not just a few children are getting vaccinated.\" The WHO said the region’s vaccination record is strong, but current funding and supply pressures risk slowing progress.

With inputs from PTI