(DDM) – African public health stakeholders have renewed the push for the development of a Lassa fever vaccine, strengthening regional coordination and funding partnerships through a new initiative led by the West African Health Organisation (WAHO).
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) learned that the renewed drive was unveiled during a high-level roundtable discussion at the World Health Summit in Berlin, where African leaders joined global partners to chart new strategies for epidemic preparedness.
The effort is backed by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), which pledged to expand its collaboration with African governments and research institutions to accelerate vaccine trials and manufacturing capacity on the continent.
Speaking at the event, WAHO Director-General, Dr. Melchior Aïssi, said the meeting underscored Africa’s determination to take ownership of its public health priorities rather than depend solely on external aid.
He emphasized that the continent must build long-term capacity to respond swiftly to infectious disease threats such as Lassa fever, Ebola, and other zoonotic outbreaks that continue to endanger millions across West Africa.
CEPI Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Richard Hatchett, described the vaccine development project as both a scientific and moral imperative, stressing that Africa must not remain at the mercy of delayed responses whenever outbreaks occur.
According to him, a successful Lassa fever vaccine would not only save lives but also strengthen trust in Africa’s health systems and its ability to manage epidemics without relying entirely on imported interventions.
Lassa fever, an acute viral hemorrhagic illness transmitted to humans through contact with food or household items contaminated by rodent urine or feces, remains endemic in parts of Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea.
Health experts estimate that up to 300,000 infections occur annually across West Africa, leading to thousands of deaths and overwhelming fragile healthcare systems.
Dr. Aïssi noted that regional cooperation remains essential, as no single country can combat the disease alone due to porous borders and weak surveillance networks.
He called on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to prioritize health security by allocating sustained funding for biomedical research, emergency preparedness, and local vaccine production.
The roundtable also highlighted the importance of public-private partnerships and community-level engagement to ensure vaccine access and trust among populations when new immunization campaigns begin.
Experts at the summit further urged African countries to invest in infrastructure for clinical trials, improve laboratory capacity, and build strong regulatory frameworks for vaccine approval and distribution.
They noted that the Lassa vaccine project aligns with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the Africa CDC’s New Public Health Order, both of which call for self-reliance and innovation in managing health crises.
Global health observers view the collaboration between CEPI and WAHO as a potential turning point in the fight against neglected tropical diseases that have long received limited global attention despite their devastating local impact.
If successful, the Lassa fever vaccine could become one of Africa’s most significant homegrown scientific breakthroughs, a model for future epidemic control efforts across the continent.