The Vaccine Cold-Chain Symposium charts a new path for climate-resilient immunisation across Africa

As heatwaves intensify and climate extremes push health systems to their limits, one truth is becoming impossible to ignore: lives depend on the cold-chain. For millions of children, parents, farmers, and frontline health workers across Africa, the ability to keep vaccines cold is not a technical challenge - it is a lifeline.

This urgent reality shaped the discussions at the 2025 Vaccine Symposium.

Over three days, more than 200 scientists, engineers, health leaders, and policymakers gathered at the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-Chain (ACES) in Rubirizi to tackle Africa’s growing vaccine-cooling challenges and devise solutions that could save millions of doses and countless lives. Under the theme "Building the Next Generation of Vaccine cold-chain for Africa", the symposium was co-hosted by ACES, the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) through RAB, and the University of Birmingham. 

The urgency of the situation is clear: In certain parts of Africa, up to 30% of all vaccines are lost annually due to failures in maintaining the safe temperature range. The World Health Organisation has reported global losses as high as 50%, highlighting a critical failure in systems designed to protect the world’s most essential medicines. Climate change is worsening this issue.

Demand for cooling is projected to triple by 2050, even as access to electricity remains inconsistent, particularly in rural health facilities. For many communities, the effectiveness of an immunisation campaign hinges on the reliability of the cold-chain; it can be the difference between preventing an outbreak and suffering a health crisis.

A Human Story: "The cold-chain Is Not a Machine; It Is a Lifeline."

Throughout the symposium, discussions consistently returned to the human cost of cold-chain failures. A single freezer malfunction can undermine months of planning. A broken ice pack can render vaccines ineffective for children. A warm transport box in a remote area can trigger another preventable outbreak.

"Every degree matters. Every minute outside of safe temperatures can be critical. A damaged cold-chain is not just a technical issue; it means unprotected children, vulnerable farmers, and communities left at risk." stated Prof. Toby Peters, founding director of ACES. 

This human-centred perspective also shaped the symposium’s emphasis on One Health, the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health, especially relevant in a continent where three-quarters of emerging human diseases originate from animals.

Participants stressed that integrating human and veterinary vaccination systems is not only convenient but essential. Dr Solange Uwituze, acting Director General of RAB, emphasised: 

"Given that three-quarters of emerging infectious diseases in humans have an animal origin, developing vaccine strategies in isolation is no longer feasible. One Health is not optional; it is essential."

Rwanda’s PSTA-5 agricultural strategy already incorporates this integration, blending veterinary services with human health systems.

Innovation in Focus: Drones, Solar Cooling, & Smart Monitoring

The symposium showcased a wave of innovations from ACES and its partners:

• Drone delivery to reduce vaccine transport time from days to minutes through the VACCAIR project, minimising heat exposure.
• Solar-powered refrigeration systems that maintain stable temperatures during power outages, which are frequent in rural Africa.
• AI-assisted diagnostics for monitoring antimicrobial resistance.
• Wastewater surveillance methods to detect disease circulation early.
• Real-time digital cold-chain tracking to promptly address temperature fluctuations.

Together, these technologies lay the groundwork for a resilient, decentralised, and climate-ready vaccine future.

Dr. Isabelle Mukagatare, Head of Biomedical Services at RBC, remarked:

"Resilience is not an abstract concept. It is solar panels that keep freezers running during blackouts; it is data that alerts a nurse before a vial overheats; it is technology that ensures vaccine potency from farm to remote health posts."

Training, Systems & Shared Functions

The symposium underscored that resilient cold-chains depend not only on equipment but also on skilled personnel. ACES plans to enhance training for engineers, technicians, and frontline health workers to support each country in developing energy-efficient, climate-smart cold-chains. 

A consensus emerged among participants that human and veterinary vaccine systems should increasingly share infrastructure to strengthen national resilience and avoid duplication. As Jean Claude Ndorimana, Director General of animal resources at MINAGRI, put it: 

"Rwanda’s progress illustrates that when systems are integrated, we can better protect both human and animal health simultaneously. That is how we prevent outbreaks before they begin."

Decision-Making for the Future

 The symposium made several commitments:

• Scaling solar-powered cold-chain solutions in rural health centres.
• Integrating veterinary and human cold-chains through One Health planning.
• Investing in data-driven temperature monitoring systems.
• Expanding training for cooling technicians and first-response health workers.
• Enhancing regional coordination for vaccine distribution.

Rwanda’s model was repeatedly cited as a benchmark for other African nations, demonstrating the integration of policy, innovation, and capacity building.

Its near-universal immunisation coverage exemplifies the impact of treating the cold-chain not as a peripheral feature but as critical infrastructure. As Prof. Peters stated: 

"Our aim is simple yet profound: no vaccine should be lost to heat, and no life, human or animal, should remain unprotected due to cooling failures. This symposium marks a transition from fragmented systems to a united front."

A Lifesaving Legacy

As Africa’s population grows and climate hazards become more pronounced, the cold-chain will determine the success of immunisation campaigns, from routine childhood vaccines to rapid responses during the next pandemic.

With innovations like drone delivery, solar cooling, smarter diagnostics, and a One Health approach, the continent is forging a resilient future where vaccines reach people, regardless of distance or temperature.

The Vaccine Symposium concluded with a powerful message: Cooling saves vaccines. Vaccines save lives. And Africa is ready to establish the systems that ensure the safety of both.