The mosquito-borne viral disease is a major killer in Africa, where it can spread fast in highly populated areas with devastating consequences.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), speaking at the programme's launch in Nigeria, a priority target country, said: "With one injection we can protect a person for life against this dangerous pathogen." He added: "This unprecedented commitment by countries will ensure that by 2026 Africa is free of yellow fever epidemics."
A yellow fever outbreak is active in Nigeria, with hundreds of suspected cases reported after a 7-year-old girl developed fever, vomiting and abdominal pain last August. Children make up almost half of those targeted.
