Allocation of Vaccine Resources in Africa: Challenges, Strategies and Opportunities for Equitable Distribution
A special issue of Vaccines (ISSN 2076-393X). This special issue belongs to the section "Vaccines and Public Health".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 August 2026 | Viewed by 155
Special Issue Editors
Interests: HIV; STI; TB; COVID-19; gender; Africa; public health; immunization
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
2. ICAP, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
Interests: infectious diseases; epidemiology; health systems; health policy; limited-resource settings
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The allocation of vaccine resources in Africa remains one of the most pressing public health and policy challenges of our time. While remarkable progress has been made in improving immunization coverage across the continent, significant disparities persist in vaccine access, distribution, and uptake. The complex interplay of limited supply, infrastructural constraints, financial barriers, and geopolitical factors continues to shape who gets vaccinated, when, and how effectively. These inequities not only threaten the control of vaccine-preventable diseases but also hinder broader efforts to strengthen health systems and achieve universal health coverage.
For this Special Issue, entitled “Allocation of Vaccine Resources in Africa: Challenges, Strategies and Opportunities for Equitable Distribution”, we aim to explore the multifaceted dimensions of vaccine allocation across the continent. We invite contributions that examine the systemic, logistical, economic, and social factors influencing vaccine distribution and access. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, analyses of supply chain and cold chain management, prioritization strategies for high-risk populations, and the role of regional and international collaborations in improving vaccine availability. Studies assessing the impact of financing mechanisms, governance structures, and policy frameworks on vaccine equity are particularly welcome to be submitted. Furthermore, we encourage submissions that investigate innovative solutions—such as digital health tools, data-driven allocation models, and local vaccine manufacturing initiatives—that can enhance efficiency and sustainability in vaccine delivery.
This Special Issue also welcomes research exploring community engagement, behavioral determinants of vaccine uptake, and the influence of misinformation and hesitancy on equitable distribution. By highlighting both the challenges and the progress achieved, this Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of vaccine resource allocation in Africa and to identify practical pathways for improvement.
Our goal is to foster interdisciplinary dialogue among policymakers, researchers, and practitioners to generate actionable evidence that supports fair, transparent, and resilient vaccine systems across the continent. We look forward to receiving your valuable contributions to this timely and impactful Special Issue.
Dr. Godfrey Musuka
Dr. Tafadzwa Dzinamarira
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Vaccines is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- vaccine economics
- health equity
- cold chain
- vaccine manufacturing
- digital health and data systems
- global health partnerships
- new vaccine introduction
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