Commemorating African Vaccination Week
- FHS Communications
The development and use of vaccines were turning points in global public health.
They have curbed the severity of the consequences of disease spread and continue to save many lives.
Vaccination programmes remain a cornerstone for decreasing diseases like polio, measles, and tetanus in Africa from birth. According to WHO, immunisation prevents 3.5 million to 5 million deaths annually, and UNICEF finds that vaccines reduce infant mortality by 52% in Africa.
With the great impact that vaccines have on public health in Africa, it is becoming increasingly necessary that the continent capacitate itself to research, develop, and produce vaccines. The Wits Faculty of Health Sciences is central to vaccine research and development. The Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute (RHI) and African Local Initiative for Vaccinology Expertise (ALIVE) are conducting impactful vaccine research, which is shaping health policy and improving lives across Africa. From leading global vaccine trials to informing public health interventions, this commitment drives change in maternal and family health, infectious disease control, and vaccine-preventable diseases.
Wits researchers serve on various global health advisory committees that directly shape vaccine programmes and responses to outbreaks worldwide, particularly in Africa. The representation of African scientists in these bodies has helped to contextualise the intricacies that inform whether treatment and disease prevention work effectively for the unique populations.
ALIVE and Wits RHI’s researchers contributed to the response to outbreaks such as the Ebola upsurge in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2022, MPOX outbreak in 2024 and the COVID-19 pandemic. These Wits research units, alongside Wits-VIDA, lead and participate in countless national and international studies with an effort to contribute to crucial evidence-based for vaccine development and rollout globally.
Wits’ vaccine work provides invaluable insights into research areas such as Tuberculosis, HIV Prevention, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), and Maternal and Child Health. As we reflect on African Vaccination Week 2025, Wits is proud to advance health equity and drive innovation in vaccine science to protect the most vulnerable.
Explore the latest vaccine research publications here