Africa CDC advances health intelligence and vaccine trial capacity

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is advancing two major initiatives to strengthen the continent's public health infrastructure and epidemic response capabilities.

First, the Africa CDC and African Union Member States are working to harmonize Behavioural Intelligence and Infodemic Management (BIIM) across Africa. This framework aims to integrate social, community, and information-environment data into public health decision-making. The initiative includes a new continental strategy, digital architecture, and roadmap to coordinate how institutions respond to health-related information and social trends.

Second, in partnership with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), the Africa CDC has launched a new database to accelerate vaccine development. The resource connects vaccine developers with 45 clinical trial units across 17 African countries capable of conducting Phase 1 studies. This tool is intended to reduce delays during outbreaks, such as the development of vaccines against the Bundibugyo ebolavirus, by providing immediate access to site infrastructure and operational capabilities.