Vaccines for Africa

Vaccines for Africa VACFA promotes the exchange of accurate, up-to-date and fully researched information on vaccines and immunisation practices relevant to Africa.

Our goal is to increasing awareness and promote the uptake of vaccines in Africa.

"Where you start is not always where you end up."Sometimes the path you didn't choose becomes the one where you make the...
12/08/2026

"Where you start is not always where you end up."

Sometimes the path you didn't choose becomes the one where you make the greatest impact.

In the latest Chronicles of African Scientists podcast hosted by Adetunji Adesina, Ph.D , Dr Edina Amponsah-Dacosta reflects on a defining moment early in her career. She wanted to become a surgeon, but medical school had other plans.

Looking back, she describes that unexpected change as:

"...a beautiful opportunity to discover your capacity to adapt and fall in love with something that you never thought you were actually going to be involved in."

Today, Dr Amponsah-Dacosta is a Senior Lecturer and Medical Research Scientist at the VACFA NISH, University of Cape Town whose work spans hepatitis B research, vaccinology, evidence-informed decision-making, and strengthening immunisation policy across Africa.

Her journey is a reminder that careers in science are rarely linear. Curiosity, resilience, and openness to unexpected opportunities often lead to the greatest impact.

🎧 Listen to the full conversation on the Chronicles of African Scientists podcast.
🔗 https://youtu.be/YEVaUULYo1g?si=nAlevxBlKZD1BEss

🧡 World Hepatitis Day | African evidence informing African immunisation policyAfrican researchers are generating importa...
29/07/2026

🧡 World Hepatitis Day | African evidence informing African immunisation policy

African researchers are generating important evidence to support hepatitis B prevention and birth dose vaccination across the continent.

The NITAG Support Hub (NISH) has curated a dedicated Hepatitis B Birth Dose LibGuide, bringing together research from across Africa alongside WHO guidelines and other key resources to support evidence-informed vaccine policy.

The collection includes studies from South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Cameroon, Mozambique, The Gambia, Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Senegal and beyond, covering:

📖 Prevention of mother-to-child transmission

📖 Timely hepatitis B birth dose vaccination

📖 Programme implementation and health system barriers

📖 Innovative approaches such as SMS reminders, controlled temperature chain delivery and performance monitoring

📖 Economic and policy evidence supporting birth dose introduction

By bringing African research together in one place, NISH makes it easier for National Immunisation Technical Advisory Groups (NITAGs), policymakers, researchers and immunisation professionals to access the evidence needed to strengthen immunisation programmes across the continent.

Explore our Hepatitis B Birth Dose LibGuide:
🔗 https://health.uct.ac.za/nish/libguide-hepatitis-b-birth-dose

🧡 World Hepatitis Day | Hepatitis: Let's break it down🟨 Hepatitis B Birth Dosehttps://health.uct.ac.za/nish/libguide-hep...
28/07/2026

🧡 World Hepatitis Day | Hepatitis: Let's break it down

🟨 Hepatitis B Birth Dose
https://health.uct.ac.za/nish/libguide-hepatitis-b-birth-dose

Every year, 1.3 million people die from viral hepatitis, making it one of the world's leading infectious disease killers.

These figures remind us that preventing hepatitis B through vaccination, alongside improving access to testing and treatment, remains a global public health priority.

The NISH Hepatitis B Birth Dose LibGuide brings together evidence from across the continent—including studies from South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Mozambique, Kenya, The Gambia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and beyond—to support evidence-informed immunisation policy.

From preventing mother-to-child transmission to evaluating innovative implementation strategies, these studies provide practical evidence for countries working towards hepatitis B elimination.

🟨 Hepatitis B Birth Dose
https://health.uct.ac.za/nish/libguide-hepatitis-b-birth-dose

Applications for the 21st Annual African Vaccinology Course 2026 are closed.We are delighted to share that we received o...
20/07/2026

Applications for the 21st Annual African Vaccinology Course 2026 are closed.

We are delighted to share that we received over 600 applications from 43 African countries, reflecting the continued growth and reach of the Annual African Vaccinology Course across the continent.

A sincere thank you to everyone who applied, and to our AAVC alumni, faculty, partners, stakeholders and colleagues who helped spread the word by sharing our call for applications. Your support plays an important role in helping us connect with vaccinology professionals from across Africa.

Our Independent Selection Committee is now reviewing applications, and we look forward to welcoming the 21st AAVC cohort in November 2026.

Didn't apply this year, or would you like to hear about future AAVC courses, webinars and other learning opportunities?

📩 Join our mailing list: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/CjeUyPs09A

Webinar 19: Preparação para a Introdução de Novas Vacinas contra a Tuberculose em África🎙️ Conheça os OradoresA preparaç...
08/07/2026

Webinar 19: Preparação para a Introdução de Novas Vacinas contra a Tuberculose em África

🎙️ Conheça os Oradores

A preparação para a introdução de novas vacinas contra a tuberculose exige evidências, colaboração e aprendizagem partilhada.

Participe no Webinar 19 do NISH: Preparação para a Introdução de Novas Vacinas contra a Tuberculose em África, onde especialistas de referência irão apresentar orientações globais, experiências dos países e perspetivas práticas para apoiar a tomada de decisões sobre vacinas informada por evidências.

Os nossos oradores incluem:

🔹 So Yoon Sim (OMS)
Orientações da OMS sobre a utilização da modelagem matemática na tomada de decisões em imunização

🔹 WAN ABDUL HANNAN WAN IBADULLAH (Ministério da Saúde da Malásia)
A experiência da Malásia na aplicação das orientações da OMS

🔹 Fred Were (KENITAG)
A perspetiva do Quénia sobre a preparação para a introdução de vacinas contra a tuberculose

🔹 Charles Shey Umaru Wiysonge (Africa CDC)
Confiança nas vacinas entre adolescentes e jovens adultos

📅 Quarta-feira, 15 de julho de 2026
🕒 12:00 SAST (GMT+2)
🌍 Webinar virtual

🔗 Link de inscrição nos comentários.

🔵 Webinaire 19 : Préparation à l'introduction de nouveaux vaccins contre la tuberculose en Afrique🎙️ Découvrez les inter...
08/07/2026

🔵 Webinaire 19 : Préparation à l'introduction de nouveaux vaccins contre la tuberculose en Afrique

🎙️ Découvrez les intervenants

La préparation à l'introduction de nouveaux vaccins contre la tuberculose nécessite des données probantes, une collaboration étroite et un apprentissage partagé.

Participez au Webinaire 19 du NITAG Support Hub (NISH), consacré à la préparation à l'introduction de nouveaux vaccins contre la tuberculose en Afrique. Des experts de premier plan présenteront les orientations mondiales, les expériences des pays et des enseignements pratiques pour soutenir une prise de décision fondée sur des données probantes en matière de vaccination.

Nos intervenants :

🔹 So Yoon Sim (OMS)
Orientations de l'OMS sur l'utilisation de la modélisation mathématique pour la prise de décision en matière de vaccination

🔹 Wan Abdul Hannan Wan Ibadullah (Ministère de la Santé, Malaisie)
L'expérience de la Malaisie dans l'application des orientations de l'OMS

🔹 Fred Were (KENITAG)
Le point de vue du Kenya sur la préparation à l'introduction des vaccins contre la tuberculose

🔹 Charles Shey Umaru Wiysonge (CDC Afrique)
Confiance vaccinale chez les adolescents et les jeunes adultes

📅 Mercredi 15 juillet 2026
🕒 12 h 00 SAST (GMT+2)
🌍 Webinaire virtuel

🔗 Lien d'inscription dans les commentaires.

Webinar 19: Preparing for New TB Vaccine Introduction in Africa🎙️ Meet the Speakers Preparing for the introduction of ne...
08/07/2026

Webinar 19: Preparing for New TB Vaccine Introduction in Africa

🎙️ Meet the Speakers

Preparing for the introduction of new TB vaccines requires evidence, collaboration, and shared learning.

Join us for NISH Webinar 19: Preparing for New TB Vaccine Introduction in Africa, where leading experts will share global guidance, country experiences, and practical insights for evidence-informed vaccine decision-making.

Our speakers include:

🔹 So Yoon Sim (WHO)
WHO guidance on using mathematical modelling for immunization decision-making

🔹 Wan Abdul Hannan (Ministry of Health, Malaysia)
Malaysia's experience in applying WHO guidelines

🔹 Fred Were (KENITAG)
Kenya's perspective on preparing for TB vaccines

🔹 Charles Shey Wiysonge (Africa CDC)
Vaccine confidence in adolescents and young adults

📅 Wednesday, 15 July 2026
🕒 12:00 SAST (GMT+2)
🌍 Virtual Webinar

🔗 Registration link in the comments.

06/07/2026

🎓 AAVC Alumni Voices

Meet Charlotte Mbuh from The Geneva Learning Foundation and an alumna of the 12th Annual African Vaccinology Course, as she reflects on how AAVC contributed to her professional journey.

For over 20 years, AAVC has connected and equipped professionals from across Africa and beyond, building a network of leaders committed to improving immunisation outcomes.

📅 21st Annual African Vaccinology Course
📍 Cape Town, South Africa
🗓️ 9-13 November 2026
⏰ Applications close 15 July 2026

🔗 More information and Application link:
https://health.uct.ac.za/vacfa/21st-annual-african-vaccinology-course-aavc

Webinar 19 do NITAG Support Hub (NISH): Preparação para a Introdução de Novas Vacinas contra a Tuberculose em ÁfricaAs n...
03/07/2026

Webinar 19 do NITAG Support Hub (NISH): Preparação para a Introdução de Novas Vacinas contra a Tuberculose em África

As novas vacinas contra a tuberculose têm o potencial de transformar a prevenção da tuberculose a nível global. À medida que os países se preparam para a futura introdução destas vacinas, a tomada de decisões informada por evidências será fundamental para garantir uma implementação eficaz e equitativa.

Este webinar abordará:

🔹 As orientações da OMS sobre a utilização da modelagem matemática na tomada de decisões em imunização
🔹 Experiências dos países na aplicação de abordagens de modelagem às decisões sobre políticas de vacinação
🔹 A preparação para a introdução de novas vacinas contra a tuberculose em África
🔹 A confiança nas vacinas entre adolescentes e jovens adultos
🔹 Prioridades para apoiar a tomada de decisões sobre vacinas contra a tuberculose informada por evidências

📅 Quarta-feira, 15 de julho de 2026
🕒 12:00 (GMT+2)
🌍 Webinar virtual

🔗 Link de inscrição nos comentários

NISH Webinar 19: Preparing for New TB Vaccine Introduction in AfricaNew TB vaccines have the potential to transform tube...
02/07/2026

NISH Webinar 19: Preparing for New TB Vaccine Introduction in Africa

New TB vaccines have the potential to transform tuberculosis prevention globally. As countries prepare for future vaccine introduction, evidence-informed decision-making will be critical to ensuring effective and equitable implementation.

This webinar will explore:

🔹 WHO guidance on the use of mathematical modelling for immunization decision-making
🔹 Country experiences applying modelling frameworks to vaccine policy decisions
🔹 Preparing for the introduction of new TB vaccines in Africa
🔹 Vaccine confidence among adolescents and young adults
🔹 Priorities for supporting evidence-informed TB vaccine decision-making

📅 Wednesday 15 July 2026
🕒 12:00 (GMT+2)
🌍 Virtual Webinar

🔗 Registration link in the comments

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