Strengthening Pandemic Vaccine Preparedness in Africa (SPAVPA): Lessons from African countries with high and low COVID-19 vaccination rates

Africa's vaccine preparedness journey is critical as it grapples with low vaccination rates compared to the rest of the world. By April 13, 2022, less than 10% of Africans were fully vaccinated against COVID-19, while Canada reached 77% and the global average was 50%. Some African countries had notably low vaccination rates (e.g., Burundi at 0.1% and Cameroon at 3.9%), and a few excelled (e.g., Rwanda at 61.4% and Mauritius at 76.2%). This wide variation, along with the continent's overall vaccination rate, makes Africa a key region for exploring vaccine preparedness, particularly in the context of equity and resource constraints, and its implications for global pandemic preparedness. Our project aims to develop a framework for enhancing pandemic vaccine preparedness by leveraging insights from the COVID-19 pandemic. We focus on two main objectives: identifying key factors affecting national vaccination rates and developing strategies to overcome barriers, and harnessing innovative, context-specific solutions from African countries to address challenges in vaccine supply, community engagement, and distribution. To achieve this, we are building a partnership with Ministries of Health from 12 countries, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, and regional vaccination centres. We will conduct qualitative comparisons of countries with differing vaccine uptake outcomes, complemented by expert interviews, data collection, and a comprehensive review of factors affecting vaccination rates. Additionally, we will use statistical modeling to identify critical drivers of COVID-19 vaccination rates across Africa. The project's impact extends beyond Africa. By focusing on African-led solutions and local expertise, we will create valuable insights for global pandemic preparedness. The findings will contribute to vaccine preparedness strategies in resource-constrained settings, offering lessons on enhancing responses to current and future pandemics.