Elevating immunization as a political and economic priority in Africa: Reflections from the continental consensus on...

Africa's Continental Immunization Strategy convening from 11 to 13 November 2025 in Kigali, Rwanda, marked a defining political moment for immunization in Africa. Beyond a technical consultation, the process generated broad consensus among African Union Member States, led by Africa CDC, to reposition immunization as a driver of primary health care transformation, health security, and health sovereignty. The Kigali consensus recognized that immunization can no longer rely on fragmented, vertical, and donor-dependent approaches, but must transition toward integrated, resilient, and country-owned systems. Africa's rapidly expanding birth cohort continues to add millions of vaccine-eligible children annually, while health systems struggle to keep pace. At the same time, immunization schedules are expanding, external financing is declining, and nearly 99% of vaccines used on the continent remain imported, creating vulnerabilities in supply reliability and sustainability. These pressures expose structural weaknesses and call for a fundamental shift in immunization delivery and financing. The Continental Immunization Strategy responds directly to this reality. It is not another technical strategy, but a political and systems blueprint that places Member States at the centre of leadership, financing, and accountability, while positioning immunization as a life-course public good embedded within primary health care systems. This article argues that the Kigali consensus may represent an important turning point in efforts to elevate immunization as a political, economic, and systems priority for advancing health sovereignty and resilient health systems in Africa.