Cameroon has launched a vaccination campaign against yellow fever, aiming to immunize over 330,000 people nationwide. The operation began on February 25, 2026, and will continue until March 1 in the Gazawa district, located in the Diamaré department (Far North). A second phase will take place from March 11 to 15 in the Fotokol district, in parallel with the Abo (Littoral) and Ngaoundal (Adamaoua) health districts.
One-third of the target population is located in the Far North region. The goal of this vaccination campaign is to reach at least 95% of the target population aged 9 months to 60 years, excluding pregnant women. In addition to administering the yellow fever vaccine, a catch-up of routine vaccination antigens will be carried out in children aged 0 to 59 months.
Cameroon is identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a country at high risk of yellow fever. Despite the introduction of the yellow fever vaccine into the routine immunization schedule in 2004 and nationwide preventive mass vaccination campaigns, cases of yellow fever have been reported since 2020 in several districts. In 2023, the country was ranked second among the 27 highest-risk countries in Africa.
The Eliminate Yellow fever Epidemics (EYE) strategy supports the Ministry of Public Health of Cameroon in an evaluation process to analyze the root cause of this resurgence. This strategy is a global coalition of 50 partners in 40 countries, including WHO, UNICEF, and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. The aim is to eliminate all yellow fever epidemics by 2026.
In 2023, a targeted vaccination campaign was deployed in seven particularly vulnerable health districts. Vaccines were administered to residents aged 9 months to 60 years, excluding pregnant and breastfeeding women. Social mobilizers and vaccinators visited homes and public places to administer vaccines and raise awareness about the importance of yellow fever vaccination. Points of entry into the country, such as airports, require proof of yellow fever vaccination, which is mandatory for all travelers. Yellow fever control in Cameroon includes regular preventive mass vaccination campaigns in high-risk health districts.
