By Alex Adi
West African health leaders are advancing clinical trials for a potential Lassa fever vaccine in countries including Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia and Senegal. To support this effort, regional collaboration is underway to establish a vaccine manufacturing centre. However, vaccine hesitancy remains a significant challenge, hindering efforts to combat infectious diseases in the region, experts noted at the opening of the ECOWAS Lassa Fever International Conference in Abidjan.
Lassa fever, a deadly viral haemorrhagic disease endemic in West Africa, continues to claim lives due to limited access to early diagnosis and effective treatment. With no approved vaccine or antiviral drug currently available, recurring outbreaks have had devastating consequences. But ongoing vaccine trials in some West African countries offer hope for reducing the disease’s impact. A key goal of these trials is to promote local vaccine production and explore the potential of traditional and herbal medicines in combating this life-threatening disease.
Vaccine hesitancy and misconceptions pose significant challenges to vaccination drives across West Africa. However, health practitioners believe that effective sensitisation efforts can reduce hesitancy, ultimately decreasing cases of infectious diseases and benefiting communities across the region.
The ECOWAS Lassa Fever International Conference, spearheaded by the West African Health Organization (WAHO), has brought together global leaders to tackle Lassa fever and other infectious diseases. At the opening ceremony, countries pledged to collaborate and share solutions to combat these health threats.
The conference will feature technical workshops, ministerial roundtables and other sessions to explore advancements in vaccines and diagnostic tools, outbreak surveillance systems, and community engagement strategies.
