Applications Closed | The 21st Annual African Vaccinology Course (AAVC) | 9 – 13 November 2026
Applications for the 21st Annual African Vaccinology Course (AAVC) have closed.
Applications Closed
The 21st Annual African Vaccinology Course (AAVC) 2026
Entering our third decade of shaping public health leadership and building sustainable immunization ecosystems across Africa.
Building on twenty years of academic and field excellence, the Vaccines for Africa Initiative (VACFA) thanks all professionals who applied for the 21st Annual African Vaccinology Course (AAVC), convening this November 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa.
Led by esteemed course conveners Dr Edina Amponsah-Dacosta, A/Prof Benjamin Kagina, and Prof Rudzani Muloiwa, the AAVC is a premium platform for human vaccinology specialists. Since 2005, this program has equipped 1,223 professionals across 49 African nations with home-grown, evidence-based expertise.
Application Status: Closed
The application period has now concluded. Thank you to everyone who submitted their applications. Successful applicants will be notified by 30 September 2026.
Target Audience for AAVC:
Immunization program managers and officers
Healthcare providers and public health professionals working in fields such as infectious diseases, disease prevention, vaccine manufacturing, implementation of immunization activities, and vaccine advocacy, communication and activism.
Policymakers, including members of National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups (NITAGs)
Researchers, postgraduate students and postdoctoral fellows working in vaccinology, immunology, and related fields
Ineligibility Criteria:
AAVC alumni who have previously attended the in-person course. Note: Applications are screened against our alumni database to ensure equitable training opportunities for those who have not benefitted previously.
Individuals who are not directly involved in the African vaccines and immunization landscape and not working in human vaccinology (e.g., veterinary or animal vaccine sciences)
Commemorative Scholarships
To expand equitable continental access, we offer dedicated funding tracks for standout applicants in the 2026 cohort:
45 In-Person Scholarships (Cape Town)
45 Certified Online Scholarships
* Selected recipients are evaluated based on the written statement of motivation provided within their application.
Why Join the AAVC Community?
The AAVC is built upon four strategic pillars: advocacy, capacity development, cross-border partnerships, and evidence-based research. Our curriculum is thoroughly updated each year to map directly onto the continent's evolving epidemiological realities.
As a fellow, you will unpack complex vaccine pipelines, cold-chain logistics, regulatory frameworks, and modern strategies to effectively address health misinformation and vaccine hesitancy in local contexts.
“The AAVC is not simply a course; it is a movement to amplify African voices in public health, preserve our hard-won progress, and protect communities most vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases.”
— Dr Edina Amponsah-Dacosta Course Co-Convener & Evidence-Informed Decision-Making Specialist, VACFA
The impact of this curriculum is felt through sustainable actions. Constance Sakala, a 2014 alumnus and Executive Secretary of the Zambian National Immunisation Technical Advisory Group, notes:
“The knowledge and skills boosted my confidence for complex leadership roles in Zambia’s Expanded Programme on Immunisation... I continue to use my AAVC background to guide evidence-based policies, vaccine rollouts, and surveillance design.”
In-Person Training (Cape Town)
Virtual Interactive CohortAn Urgent Continental Imperative
Africa holds deep roots in disease prevention lore, dating back to 18th-century accounts of historic inoculation frameworks introduced to global medical history by West Africans like Onesimus. Yet today, our health landscape faces intense demands. Over 500,000 children under five die annually on the continent from vaccine-preventable illnesses, a burden constantly aggravated by environmental and infrastructure pressures.
The 21st AAVC is explicitly engineered to train public health leaders who blend state-of-the-art immunology with nuanced local mastery.
Admissions Note: Due to heavy annual application volumes, only successful applicants will be formally contacted by our review team. Final selection notifications will be sent out by 30 September 2026.
Thank You For Your Interest in AAVC 2026
Applications for the 2026 Cohort are now closed. Our committee is currently reviewing all submissions. Successful candidates will be notified by 30 September 2026.