As Africa accelerates its efforts towards vaccine self-sufficiency, the importance of reliable cold-chain systems cannot be overstated. Maintaining vaccines at precise temperatures from production to patient is vital for preserving their efficacy. In an era marked by climate challenges, energy constraints, and rising health demands, investing in cold-chain innovation has become a cornerstone of Africa’s public health transformation. The is expressed as a pivotal Vaccine Symposium is being hosted from November 17 to 19, by the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-Chain (ACES) in collaboration with the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), the University of Birmingham (UoB), the Clean Cooling Network, Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) and partners at ACES Rubirizi Campus, Kigali. The symposium, held under the theme Building the Next Generation of Vaccine Cold-Chain in Africa, delves into strategies for enhancing vaccine equity, climate resilience, and cross-sectoral research in cold-chain management. The event convenes leading scientists, researchers, policymakers, and industry experts to explore cutting-edge advancements in resilient, climate-friendly vaccine cold-chain systems, fostering scientific innovation and collaboration across Africa. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that most vaccines sensitive to freezing or heat should be stored at +2 °C to +8 °C throughout the supply chain. Vaccines prevent many infectious diseases, but for any vaccine to work they must be carefully stored and transported within a controlled temperature range. Globally, WHO estimates that up to 50% of vaccines may be wasted each year because of temperature control, logistics, and supply-chain issues. According to WHO EVM (Effective Vaccine Management) global data (2009–2020), more than one in 20 stores/facilities reported having lost vaccines due to temperature damage in the past 12 months. Cooling technologies set to shape Rwanda’s health sector Rwanda’s vaccine production drive began in 2023 with the inauguration of BioNTech’s first African manufacturing site in Kigali. According to Prof. Claude Mambo Muvunyi, the Director General of the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), cooling technologies have become increasingly vital and timely for the health sector as Rwanda and the region work to strengthen resilient health systems and climate-smart infrastructure. With rising temperatures, expanding immunisation programmes, and the growing demand for temperature-sensitive vaccines, reagents, and biological samples, efficient and sustainable cooling systems are now a public health necessity rather than a luxury, he says. “For RBC and its partners, the urgency is twofold: health security and service continuity, and climate adaptation and sustainability. Reliable cooling ensures the potency of vaccines and pharmaceuticals, prevents stock losses, and supports uninterrupted services in health facilities, laboratories, and during transport. The transition towards energy-efficient, solar-powered, and low-GWP refrigerant technologies aligns with Rwanda’s national climate goals, reducing the environmental footprint in the health sector,” Muvunyi said. Why vaccine symposium is timely According to Dr Jean Pierre Musabyimana, Research Lead heading the One Health programme at ACES, a central hub that provides sustainable solutions to cold-chain challenges, the Vaccine Symposium comes at a critical moment for Africa’s immunisation landscape. “Across the continent, vaccination programmes are facing multiple pressures, including emerging disease threats, supply-chain disruptions, the need for sustainable financing, and the requirement for resilient cold-chain systems. At the same time, new vaccine technologies and One Health perspectives are expanding the horizon for both human and animal immunisation,” he said. In Rwanda and the region, efforts led by ACES and partners are aligning with global priorities to strengthen local manufacturing, improve cold-chain resilience, and promote equitable access to vaccines. “The symposium provides a much-needed platform to bring together government, academia, industry, and development partners to chart a sustainable path forward for vaccine innovation and delivery systems for both humans and animals in Africa,” the research lead said. Expected outcomes of the vaccine symposium The meeting offers a unique platform for the scientific community to tackle pressing challenges in healthcare, vaccine research, and infrastructure, contributing to Africa's broader health security and development objectives. The event will enable a clear understanding of how national and regional actors can align around a One Health Vaccinology strategy, integrating human and animal immunisation priorities. An innovation and collaboration roadmap is expected thanks to the identification of collaborative research and development opportunities, particularly in cold-chain innovation, vaccine logistics, and local production capacity. New or reinforced partnerships between government agencies such as Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB), research institutions (ACES, universities), the private sector, and global partners such as WHO, UNICEF, FAO among others are expected to drive vaccine sustainability. Capacity building and knowledge exchange is among the strong outcomes. There will be enhanced understanding of emerging technologies and best practices in vaccine storage, distribution, and monitoring, contributing to workforce development and resilience. Practical recommendations for financing, energy-efficient systems, and circular approaches to ensure vaccine cold chains are both environmentally and economically sustainable are the expected commitments. Participants will engage with groundbreaking research on vaccine science and state-of-the-art point-of-care diagnostics, collaborate with international experts in vaccine research and cold-chain optimisation, and influence the future of climate-adaptive solutions.
