West Africa inaugurates roadmap to ensure access to Lassa fever vaccines
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that it is the first regionally led framework of its kind, mapping the full pathway for moving a Lassa fever vaccine from development to sustained use across West Africa.
West African countries have taken a major step toward strengthening regional epidemic preparedness by launching the first End-to-End (E2E) Access Roadmap for Lassa fever vaccines, a framework designed to ensure equitable access to vaccines once they become available.
The roadmap was inaugurated on Tuesday during a virtual webinar and was developed under the leadership of the West African Health Organization (WAHO) with support from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).
Lassa fever remains a persistent public health threat across the sub-region, causing thousands of deaths every year and placing significant pressure on health systems that are often fragile. The disease, which is endemic in several West African countries including Nigeria, has also led to considerable socio-economic losses due to recurrent outbreaks.
According to CEPI’s Executive Director for Access and Business Development, Ms. Emma Wheatley, the roadmap is a critical preparatory step ahead of the expected approval of the first Lassa fever vaccines in the coming years. “For decades, Lassa fever has affected the lives and livelihoods of people across West Africa, but the tide is turning.
With experts expecting the first Lassa fever vaccine approvals in the next five years, it is essential that preparations for access, supply and delivery begin now, not after licensure,” Wheatley said during the webinar. She emphasized that a scientific breakthrough alone would not guarantee impact without early planning for manufacturing, financing and equitable distribution.
The E2E Access Roadmap takes a comprehensive approach to vaccine readiness, covering every stage of the access pathway from research and development to regulatory and policy preparedness, manufacturing and supply planning, financing, procurement, delivery systems and long-term sustainability.
The framework clearly outlines responsibilities, timelines and decision points aimed at guiding governments, funding partners, manufacturers and implementing organizations toward timely and affordable access to Lassa fever vaccines across the region.
Dr. Virgil Lokossou, Director of Healthcare Services at WAHO, said the roadmap reflects the region’s commitment to taking ownership of its epidemic preparedness agenda.
He noted that the initiative positions West African countries to lead and coordinate their response efforts more effectively as vaccine development progresses.
