{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,2]],"date-time":"2026-07-02T20:23:31Z","timestamp":1783023811190,"version":"3.54.6"},"reference-count":55,"publisher":"Wiley","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,27]],"date-time":"2026-03-27T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1774569600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-nd\/4.0\/"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,27]],"date-time":"2026-03-27T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1774569600000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/doi.wiley.com\/10.1002\/tdm_license_1.1"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Health Science Reports"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,4]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>ABSTRACT<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Influenza remains a significant yet under\u2010prioritized public health challenge in Africa, where unique hurdles such as limited surveillance, variable seasonal patterns, and under\u2010resourced health systems constrain effective prevention and control. This commentary provides a detailed analysis of the influenza landscape, with a focused case study on Ghana, to elucidate the barriers to achieving global immunization targets.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>We review the substantial morbidity and mortality burden attributable to influenza in Africa, drawing on recent estimates and modeling studies. The manuscript systematically examines the evolution of Ghana's influenza epidemiology, the current state of its surveillance strategies, and the fragmented nature of its vaccination policies and implementation. Through comparative analysis with other African nations like South Africa, Egypt, and Morocco, we highlight successful strategies in integrating surveillance with data\u2010driven policy and legal frameworks.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The analysis identifies critical gaps, including the acute shortage of locally representative epidemiological data, weak regulatory environments for vaccine deployment, pervasive vaccine hesitancy, and fragile supply chains. By synthesizing lessons from Ghana's Expanded Program on Immunization and its COVID\u201019 response, we propose a multi\u2010pronged, context\u2010sensitive roadmap for strengthening influenza preparedness. This roadmap emphasizes the imperative of investing in robust, digitally integrated surveillance, enacting supportive legal instruments, launching targeted community engagement to build vaccine confidence, and pursuing regional vaccine manufacturing partnerships.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Strengthening seasonal influenza programs is not only crucial for reducing the annual disease burden but also serves as an indispensable foundation for building resilient health systems capable of mitigating future pandemic threats, directly contributing to the attainment of Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well\u2010being).<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1002\/hsr2.72228","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,27]],"date-time":"2026-03-27T07:18:52Z","timestamp":1774595932000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Africa's Struggle to Meet Global Pandemic Influenza Immunization Targets: Lessons for Public Health Policy and Preparedness\u2014A Focus on Ghana"],"prefix":"10.1002","volume":"9","author":[{"given":"Yula","family":"Salifu","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, School of Public Health University of Ghana Legon Ghana"},{"name":"Department of Population and Reproductive Health, School of Public Health University for Development Studies Tamale Ghana"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Joseph","family":"Lasong","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, School of Public Health University of Ghana Legon Ghana"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ireneous Nangbeviel","family":"Dasoberi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Health Policy, Planning and Management, School of Public Health University of Ghana Legon Ghana"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,27]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_15_2_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/s0140-6736(17)33293-2"},{"key":"e_1_2_15_3_1","unstructured":"World Health Organization Seasonal Influenza Vaccines: An Overview for Decision\u2010makers.WHO;2020 https:\/\/iris.who.int\/server\/api\/core\/bitstreams\/1a67eb7c-3a17-451a-866d-f0c3e4be2dc9\/content."},{"key":"e_1_2_15_4_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/s2213-2600(18)30496-x"},{"key":"e_1_2_15_5_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3201\/eid2104.141033"},{"key":"e_1_2_15_6_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0118884"},{"key":"e_1_2_15_7_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S2214-109X(23)00109-2"},{"key":"e_1_2_15_8_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/1471-2458-14-41"},{"key":"e_1_2_15_9_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/irv.12397"},{"issue":"7","key":"e_1_2_15_10_1","first-page":"1066","article-title":"The Role of Non\u2010Influenza Respiratory Viruses in Severe Acute Respiratory Infections in Children Aged <5 Years in South Africa, 2012\u20102015","volume":"61","author":"McMorrow M.","year":"2015","journal-title":"Clinical Infectious Diseases"},{"key":"e_1_2_15_11_1","volume-title":"Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response in the African Region: A Guide for Establishing Community Based Surveillance","author":"Who A. 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