ArticleHealth science reports2026
Africa's Struggle to Meet Global Pandemic Influenza Immunization Targets: Lessons for Public Health Policy and Preparedness-A Focus on Ghana.
Article in Health science reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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3 authors.
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Abstract
Background: Influenza remains a significant yet under-prioritized public health challenge in Africa, where unique hurdles such as limited surveillance, variable seasonal patterns, and under-resourced health systems constrain effective prevention and control. This commentary provides a detailed analysis of the influenza landscape, with a focused case study on Ghana, to elucidate the barriers to achieving global immunization targets. Methods: We review the substantial morbidity and mortality burden attributable to influenza in Africa, drawing on recent estimates and modeling studies. The manuscript systematically examines the evolution of Ghana's influenza epidemiology, the current state of its surveillance strategies, and the fragmented nature of its vaccination policies and implementation. Through comparative analysis with other African nations like South Africa, Egypt, and Morocco, we highlight successful strategies in integrating surveillance with data-driven policy and legal frameworks. Results: The analysis identifies critical gaps, including the acute shortage of locally representative epidemiological data, weak regulatory environments for vaccine deployment, pervasive vaccine hesitancy, and fragile supply chains. By synthesizing lessons from Ghana's Expanded Program on Immunization and its COVID-19 response, we propose a multi-pronged, context-sensitive roadmap for strengthening influenza preparedness. This roadmap emphasizes the imperative of investing in robust, digitally integrated surveillance, enacting supportive legal instruments, launching targeted community engagement to build vaccine confidence, and pursuing regional vaccine manufacturing partnerships. Conclusions: Strengthening seasonal influenza programs is not only crucial for reducing the annual disease burden but also serves as an indispensable foundation for building resilient health systems capable of mitigating future pandemic threats, directly contributing to the attainment of Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being).
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