The Tanzanian Ministry of Health has reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) to enhance immunization services and safeguard the health of Tanzanians. This assurance was given by Emmanuel Tayari, Deputy Permanent Secretary responsible for Medicines and Medical Devices, on behalf of the Ministry's Permanent Secretary, Dr. Grace Magembe, during a meeting in Dodoma with GAVI representatives and stakeholders.
The meeting reviewed the implementation of Tanzania's five-year immunization program spanning 2021 to 2025. Tayari highlighted that the partnership between Tanzania and GAVI, which began over a decade ago, has resulted in investments of over $597 million to strengthen immunization services in the country. This collaboration has yielded significant progress, with immunization rates for various vaccines exceeding 90 percent, surpassing the global target of 80 percent.
One of the notable achievements of this partnership is the eradication of polio in Tanzania in 2015, a disease that previously posed a serious threat to children under the age of five. Tayari emphasized that the government, through the Ministry of Health, has developed a new five-year National Immunization Strategy for 2026-2030. This strategy aims to further strengthen vaccination services and build a resilient society where every child is protected against vaccine-preventable diseases.
The National Immunization Strategy for 2026-2030 seeks to consolidate the gains made so far and address any remaining challenges in immunization services. According to Tayari, the strategy is designed to ensure that every child in Tanzania has access to life-saving vaccines. This initiative is part of the government's broader efforts to improve healthcare services and protect the well-being of its citizens.
Mario Jimenez, GAVI's Senior Manager in Tanzania, commended the government for its effective oversight of immunization programs between 2020 and 2025. He noted that these programs have successfully expanded vaccination services to a large number of children across the country. Notably, girls under the age of nine have been vaccinated against cervical cancer, a significant milestone in the fight against this disease.
The collaboration between Tanzania and GAVI has been instrumental in improving immunization coverage and reducing the incidence of vaccine-preventable diseases. The government's commitment to sustaining this partnership is crucial in ensuring that immunization services continue to reach all segments of the population, particularly the most vulnerable groups such as children and pregnant women.
As Tanzania moves forward with its new National Immunization Strategy, the support of GAVI and other stakeholders will be essential in achieving its goals. The government's efforts to strengthen immunization services are expected to have a lasting impact on the health and well-being of Tanzanians, particularly in the fight against vaccine-preventable diseases.
Key points
- Tanzania and GAVI have invested over $597 million to strengthen immunization services in the country.
- The partnership has resulted in immunization rates exceeding 90 percent, surpassing the global target of 80 percent.
- Tanzania has developed a new five-year National Immunization Strategy for 2026-2030 to further strengthen vaccination services.
