Call for papers: Marking the 50 years of Immunisation Programmes in Africa (A Special Issue)

In this blog: About | Timelines | Express interest | How to submit | Guest editors 

About this special issue

The Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) was officially launched on 23 May 1974 at the 27th World Health Assembly (WHA 27.57), building on the lessons learned from the successful smallpox eradication programme.

To highlight the achievements of vaccination efforts and showcase the progress of immunization programmes across Africa, the Vaccine Preventable Disease (VPD) Programme at the WHO Regional Office for Africa, in partnership with UNICEF Regional Offices in Africa, is pleased to announce an upcoming journal supplement in the Pan African Medical Journal (PAMJ) dedicated to the EPI’s journey on the continent.

This special issue will commemorate 50 years of EPI by reflecting on its evolution, celebrating milestones, and addressing opportunities to revitalize and strengthen the programme. It aims to document innovative practices, successes, and challenges faced by immunization programmes across African countries, offering valuable insights for advocacy, systems learning, and strategic planning.

The supplement will feature a range of contributions, including commentaries, essays, perspectives, and descriptive analyses that draw on programmatic data from immunization and disease surveillance efforts. Where available, it will also incorporate research based on primary data. Special emphasis will be placed on submissions from African countries, providing national immunization programmes and local researchers with a platform to share their experiences and insights with the global scientific community.

Timelines and cost to authors

• Submissions open: 1st February 2025
• Online publication: on a rolling basis, from late February to August 2025.
• Submission languages: English and French
• Submission cost to authors: none

Submissions to the supplement are solicited for the following thematic areas:

Authors are invited to submit in the following categories: Research, Short communication, Case studies, Letter to the editors, Outbreak investigation, Essays, Policy brief, Perspective, Editorial, Opinions. Check the PAMJ instructions for authors.

Express your interest to submit

You can express your interest to submit to the supplement by completing the Supplement Expression of Interest to Submit form.

How to submit to the supplement

To submit to the supplement.

• Access the PAMJ Manuscript Submission System. 
• Log in, if you do not have an account, or register for a new account.
• Use your new or existing credentials (email and passowrd) to access the Submission System.
• One logged in, click on the button Submit to PAMJ.
• Carefully read through the submission checklist to ensure all requirements are met.
• Select Supplement - EPI@50 as Type of Manuscript in the manuscript information form.
• Proceed to complete your submission.

Manuscripts submitted to the supplement should adhere to the PAMJ Instructions for Authors.

Guest editors

• Prof. Charles Shey Wiysonge MD, PhD, World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, Congo.
  Professor Charles Shey Wiysonge is the Regional Adviser for Immunisation and Head of the Vaccine-Preventable Diseases Programme at the WHO Regional Office for Africa. He is also an Extraordinary Professor of Global Health at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. His previous appointments include Senior Director at the South African Medical Research Council; Director of Cochrane South Africa; Professor and Deputy Director of the Centre for Evidence-based Health Care at Stellenbosch University; Honorary Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of Cape Town (UCT), South Africa; Manager of the Vaccines for Africa Initiative and Chief Research Officer at UCT; and Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Central Technical Group in charge of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation in Cameroon. https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-shey-umaru-wiysonge-36047212/ 

• Balcha Masresha MD, World Health Organization Region Office for Africa, Brazzaville, Congo.
  Dr Balcha Masresha is a medical doctor with specialization in Paediatrics from Addis Ababa University. He has more than 25 years of experience in immunisation, VPD control and international public health. He is currently coordinating measles and rubella elimination in the WHO African Region. https://www.linkedin.com/in/balcha-g-masresha-a1a39414b/ 

• Raoul Kamadjeu MD, MPH, United Nations Children’s Fund, New York, USA.
   Dr Raoul Kamadjeu is an epidemiologist and public health expert with over two decades of work in immunization, VPDs and Public Health Emergencies in various organizations. Currently works with UNICEF HQ as a Public Health Emergency Specialist. Earned his MD from Cameroon, MPH from Belgium and is completing a PhD in epidemiology with the City University of New York. https://www.linkedin.com/in/raoul-kamadjeu/

• Abdu Adamu MBBS, PhD, World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, Congo.
   Dr. Abdu A. Adamu is a medical doctor with expertise in epidemiology and implementation science. His main areas of interests are systems thinking, real-world application of implementation science theories and frameworks, quality improvement, process evaluation, and system/organization readiness for change. He is currently focused on mainstreaming the use of implementation science in immunization systems to enhance equitable access and uptake of recommended vaccines, and fast-track routine use of new vaccines and vaccination technologies. https://www.linkedin.com/in/audu86/ 

• Antoinette Ba-Nguz MD, Msc, Independent Senior Immunization Consultant.
  Dr Antoinette Ba-Nguz is a medical doctor with specialization in paediatrics and general medicine. She obtained her MSc in Tropical Biomedical Sciences from the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp, Belgium, and diplomas in Pediatrics and General Medicine from the University of Dakar, Senegal. She has over three decades of experience in public health, working with various international organizations (WHO, UNICEF, PATH) on evidence-based policy development, strategic planning and advocacy strategies. https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleonore-antoinette-ba-nguz-a906557/

• James L Goodson, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA.
  James L. Goodson is an Epidemiologist and Senior Scientist at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). He has extensive experience in global health spanning more than 25 years. He has worked in complex humanitarian emergencies for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and Doctors without Borders (MSF). In 2006, Goodson started at the CDC to serve as an Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) officer in the Global Immunization Division. Today, he is a renowned global measles expert and continues his work with the CDC in the Global Immunization Division, leading measles elimination efforts, developing research and innovations, and conducting outbreak investigations. He has authored and published more than 100 scientific journal articles and book chapters on measles, rubella, polio, and immunization services delivery. Goodson holds a Master of Public Health degree in Epidemiology with a Certificate in International Humanitarian Assistance from the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health. https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-jim-l-goodson-730763120/

• Duduzile Ndwandwe BSc, MSc, PhD, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa.
  Dr Duduzile Ndwandwe, a Senior Specialist Scientist at Cochrane South Africa, an intramural unit of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), is a leader in her field. She oversees the Clinical Trials Registry, which includes the Pan African Clinical Trials Registry (PACTR) and the South African National Clinical Trials Registry (SANCTR). Her leadership extends to vaccine implementation research and pandemic preparedness initiatives as the head of the Global Research Collaboration for Infectious Disease Preparedness (GloPID-R) Africa Hub. In addition to these roles, Dr. Ndwandwe also serves as a non-executive director and board chair of Eh! Woza, a non-profit organisation dedicated to advancing community engagement on critical public health issues. https://www.linkedin.com/in/duduzile-ndwandwe-mshumi-11489943/