The Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar (RGZ) has confirmed that it spends around Sh1.6 billion every year on vaccines aimed at preventing communicable and vaccine-preventable diseases, while successfully reaching about 92 percent coverage among targeted beneficiaries.

The announcement was made by the Director of Prevention and Health Education at the Ministry of Health, Dr Salim Slim, during a training session on immunisation programmes held on Thursday, May 28, 2026.

He explained that the government continues to prioritise vaccination as a key public health intervention to protect children and strengthen community health outcomes across the islands.

The vaccination programme in Zanzibar includes a wide range of essential vaccines such as those for cervical cancer (HPV), tetanus and diphtheria (Td), hepatitis, pentavalent vaccine (Penta), Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), and rotavirus (Rota).

Dr Slim noted that some vaccines are administered to both boys and girls, while the HPV vaccine is specifically given to girls aged between nine and 14 years to help reduce future cervical cancer cases.He further warned that some parents fail to complete vaccination schedules for their children, which puts them at risk of preventable diseases.

He also highlighted that improving vaccine coverage could significantly reduce cervical cancer cases that are currently treated at facilities such as Ocean Road Cancer Institute.The government has set a long-term ambition of eliminating cervical cancer in Zanzibar within the next 15 years.

Despite ongoing challenges such as misconceptions and negative attitudes towards immunisation, authorities continue to expand awareness campaigns, especially among schoolchildren and communities.

Additionally, Dr Slim pointed out that family planning and closely spaced births sometimes affect mothers’ ability to ensure children complete vaccination schedules.

Meanwhile, Dr Ibrahim Juma Ibrahim from the National Immunisation Programme stated that vaccinated children have more than 80 percent protection against diseases and urged parents to fully support immunisation efforts, emphasising that vaccines remain safe and essential for child health protection.