Complete immunisation schedule for children in Africa based on WHO Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI). Track your child's vaccines from birth to 5 years.
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The Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) is the backbone of child health across Africa. Established by the WHO in 1974, EPI provides a standard vaccination schedule that protects children from the most dangerous infectious diseases. In Africa, where many of these diseases remain endemic, timely vaccination is literally life-saving.
The standard African EPI schedule includes vaccines against tuberculosis (BCG), polio, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), pneumococcal disease, rotavirus, measles, rubella, and yellow fever. Some countries add additional vaccines like malaria (RTS,S/Mosquirix), typhoid, and meningitis depending on disease burden.
Despite significant progress — Africa's childhood vaccination coverage has improved from less than 5% in 1974 to over 70% today — millions of children still miss their routine vaccinations. The COVID-19 pandemic set back immunisation progress in many countries, with UNICEF estimating that 12.7 million African children were "zero-dose" (received no vaccines at all) in 2023.
Parents play a crucial role in ensuring their children receive all vaccines on time. Keep your child's vaccination card (Road to Health card in South Africa, Immunisation Card in Nigeria/Kenya) safe and bring it to every clinic visit. If you've missed a vaccine, it's never too late to catch up — contact your nearest health facility to get back on schedule.
Yes. All vaccines in the EPI schedule have been rigorously tested and approved by the WHO. Side effects are typically mild (slight fever, redness at injection site) and resolve within 1-2 days. The risk of serious side effects is extremely rare — far lower than the risk of the diseases they prevent. Millions of African children receive these vaccines safely every year.
Visit your nearest health facility as soon as possible. Most vaccines can be given later than scheduled — it's called "catch-up vaccination." Your healthcare worker will adjust the schedule. The important thing is to complete all vaccinations, even if they're delayed. Don't restart the series — just continue where you left off.
The RTS,S (Mosquirix) and R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccines are being rolled out across Africa. As of 2024-2025, they are available in national immunisation programmes in Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, with more countries joining. The vaccines reduce malaria cases in children by approximately 40-75%. Ask at your local health facility if the malaria vaccine is available in your area — it's free at government facilities in participating countries.
Yes. The HPV (Human Papillomavirus) vaccine protects against the types of HPV that cause over 70% of cervical cancers. Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women globally and has especially high incidence in sub-Saharan Africa. The WHO recommends vaccinating girls aged 9-14 years with 2 doses (6 months apart). Most African countries now include HPV in their national immunisation schedules — it's free at government health facilities for eligible age groups. The vaccine is most effective when given before sexual debut.
The "meningitis belt" stretches across sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal to Ethiopia — including Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria (north), Chad, Sudan, and Ethiopia. This region has the world's highest rates of bacterial meningitis (mainly Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A). The MenAfriVac vaccine, developed specifically for Africa, provides long-lasting protection with a single dose and has reduced meningitis A cases in the belt by over 99% since its introduction in 2010. If you live in or travel to this region, confirm your child has received this vaccine.
Family-health tools should turn dates, costs, growth, feeding, and vaccine questions into safer preparation for antenatal, paediatric, and community health visits.
This app now has its own benchmarked improvement layer, dashboard handoff, email-gated PDF plan, and a route into the Pregnancy and child care plan workflow.
CDC immunization schedule app: The best schedule tools include catch-up, notes, printable schedules, and provider review.
Implemented here: Added family-health PDF planning and dashboard handoff around local clinic confirmation.