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Page 51
Journal of Clinical Immunology and Allergy
ISSN: 2471-304X
E u r o p e a n C o n g r e s s o n
Vaccines & Vaccination
and Gynecologic Oncology
Vaccines & Vaccination and Gynecologic Oncology 2018
O c t o b e r 2 6 - 2 7 , 2 0 1 8
B u d a p e s t , H u n g a r y
Bottlenecks to universal immunization coverage
in Africa
Edison Arwanire Mworozi and Joseph Rujumba
Makerere University, Uganda
Edison Arwanire Mworozi et al., Journal of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, Volume: 4
DOI: 10.21767/2471-304X-C2-006
Biography
A Ugandan Pediatrician with keen interest in infectious diseases
and childhood immunization. Currently, he a Senior Consultant
Pediatrician at Mulago National Referral Hospital, Honorary
Lecturer at the College of Health Sciences Makerere University
and Professor of Pediatrics, St Augustine Internal University
Actively involved in the Uganda National Expanded Programme
on Immunization and introduction of New Vaccines into routine
immunization. He has published widely and a Peer Reviewer
for several journals. A member of several professional and
technical bodies including: the Uganda Medical association,
Uganda Pediatric Association, International Society for
Infectious diseases, International Pediatric Association, Vienna
Vaccine safety Initiative, East African Rotavirus Advisory Board
(GSK) and Institutional Biosafety committees for the Makerere
University and Walter Reed Collaborative HIV Vaccine Trials;
East African Centre for Vaccines and Immunization; External
Expert Advisory group on Stronger Systems for Routine
Immunization Project in Uganda and a Member of the East
African Meningococcal Advisory Board (Pfizer).
Vaccination is a cornerstone of any program that aims at reducing morbidity
and mortality due to preventable infectious diseases and is a cost-effective
intervention. Despite efforts to reduce child mortality, 10 million children under
5 die annually mainly from developing countries, Africa inclusive. It is estimated
that currently Africa contributes to over 50% of the global childhood deaths due to
vaccine preventable diseases. Vaccine preventable diseases remain an important
public health problem. Immunization is a key in attaining sustainable development
goal 3 i.e. reducing under-five mortality globally but attaining universal childhood
vaccination remains a challenge particularly in reaching the most vulnerable in
Africa. Despite the availability of effective vaccines, immunization coverage
remainslowinmostpartsofAfricaduetovariousbottlenecksincluding:inadequate
and poorly motivated health workers (HWS), inadequate knowledge and skills
by HWS, multiple languages, low education, cultural and religious beliefs, poor
access to heaths facilities, social economic status, political instability, conflicts
and social unrest, ever increasing refuges or internally displaced persons, mobile
populations, inaccurate population and immunization data, negative messaging
and anti-vaccine lobby, inadequate funding, social mobilization and vaccine safety
concerns. These bottlenecks have led to minimal improvement or stagnation in
immunization coverage rates in recent years in a number of African countries
threatening to reverse the gains achieved in the past two decades. Achieving
universal immunization coverage in Africa remains a daunting task, requires
multiple strategies and partnerships.
Euro Vaccines 2018