At the maternal and child health centre in Agua Grande, the bustling capital of São Tomé and Príncipe, it’s vaccination day. By 9 a.m., mothers cradle their babies on crowded benches while fathers watch over older children, health booklets quietly exchanging hands amid conversations. In nearby rooms, nurses prepare vaccines, call families one by one, and carefully record each detail, creating an atmosphere of calm and trust.
Among them is Jucilène da Trindade, 35, a mother of three, waiting with her youngest, two-year-old Mateus. “With three children, my days are full! But I always find the time to get them vaccinated. It protects them, saves me medical expenses, and gives them a safer future,” she says, clutching her son’s blue health booklet. Beyond her own family, Jucilène has become a trusted guide for other mothers in her neighbourhood, encouraging vaccination, supporting young parents, and relaying vital information to the community.
Eunice Carvalho, 21, is one of those mothers benefiting from this local support. “Jeanna is my first child. Every visit to the centre to get her vaccinated reassures me that she grows up healthy and protected,” she says proudly, holding the pink booklet for her 15-month-old daughter.
Community mobilization has been central to São Tomé and Príncipe’s vaccination success. In 2019, coverage for the third dose of the pentavalent vaccine reached 94%, far above the regional average of 74%. The World Health Organization (WHO) has supported the government in strengthening routine immunization through district-level supervision, staff training, improved data management, and better coordination between the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) and local teams.
The country has also eliminated neonatal tetanus and remains polio-free. “Seeing polio and neonatal tetanus disappear from my country is tremendously satisfying. Parents come on their own on vaccination days, knowing our work saves lives,” says Ana Lucia, a nurse at the Agua Grande health centre for ten years.
The COVID-19 pandemic challenged this progress, and vaccination coverage dipped to 87% in 2023. Yet a swift national response, supported by partners, implemented innovative strategies such as supplementary campaigns and mobile teams targeting zero-dose and under-vaccinated children. Community health workers and civil society organizations played a crucial role in raising awareness and ensuring that no child was left behind.
WHO also assisted with the introduction of new vaccines, community mobilization, and vaccination campaigns to boost demand. “Vaccination here is human at its core: it protects children, strengthens family trust, and builds healthier communities. São Tomé and Príncipe proves that progress is possible, even amid challenges,” says Dr Abdoulaye Diarra, WHO Representative in the country.
The collaboration between government authorities, health professionals, communities, and technical and financial partners has been widely praised. “São Tomé’s example shows the strength of partnership. Everyone works together to ensure sustainable access to vaccines,” notes Dr Antoinette Awaga of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
These achievements rest on an accessible health system, consistent campaigns, trained staff, and informed families. As Dr Solange Barros, EPI coordinator for São Tomé and Príncipe, emphasizes, “EPI has been a cornerstone of disease prevention and public health. Thanks to collective effort, countless lives have been saved and children’s futures protected.”
Beyond saving lives, vaccination drives broader development—reducing healthcare costs, improving school attendance, strengthening family productivity, and forging lasting bonds between communities and the health system.
“Here, we don’t come just for a vaccine, we come for the future. Vaccinating my children is an act of love and responsibility,” concludes Jucilène as she leaves the health centre, her baby safely on her back.
