Africa: Nearly 20 million measles deaths averted since 2000

way2barak, April 16: Measles vaccinations have saved nearly 20 million lives in Africa since the year 2000 and more than 500 million children were protected through routine immunisation, but the continent remains offtrack in the fight against vaccine-preventable diseases.

The findings come in the first-ever detailed analysis of immunisation targets in Africa, published on Wednesday by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

It also documents progress and challenges in expanding immunisation coverage against a broad range of vaccine-preventable diseases, as well as ongoing efforts to achieve targets under a global strategy known as the 2030 Immunization Agenda.

The analysis covers the years from 2000 to 2024 which saw increased vaccination coverage in Africa as 44 countries introduced a second dose of measles-containing vaccine into routine programmes.

Coverage rates rose from five per cent to 55 per cent during this period while supplemental inoculation campaigns delivered 622 million vaccinations.

Together, these efforts have halved measles deaths in the African region and led to a 40 per cent drop in overall cases.

Additionally, nine countries reported consistently low measles incidence rates in 2023 and 2024, while Cabo Verde, Mauritius and the Seychelles were verified in 2025 as having eliminated measles and rubella – the first sub-Saharan African countries to achieve this milestone.