Gabon has received 2,734,800 vaccine doses in a major effort to strengthen childhood immunisation and reduce the risk of preventable diseases.

The vaccine delivery was officially received on October 16, 2026, at the Expanded Programme on Immunisation facility at Nkembo in Libreville. The shipment was provided with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the Community Development Emergency Programme.

Health Minister Professor Elsa Nkana Joséphine Ayo Bivigou received the vaccine allocation from UNDP Resident Representative Rokya Ye-Dieng. Representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and other health partners attended the handover.

The delivery aims to strengthen vaccine availability, improve childhood immunisation coverage and help reach children who have missed scheduled vaccinations, particularly in remote areas. Health authorities are also seeking to improve protection against measles and other vaccine-preventable illnesses.

Gabon’s routine immunisation programme serves children under two years of age and includes vaccination services for pregnant women. Maintaining adequate supplies is essential to keeping vaccination services running and preventing shortages at health facilities.

The next priority is ensuring that the vaccines reach the communities that need them most. Effective distribution, reliable cold-chain storage and outreach to families with limited access to health facilities will be important to translating this delivery into improved protection.

The shipment represents a significant supply boost, although its impact on national vaccination coverage will depend on how effectively the doses are distributed and administered.