Tackling Vaccine Inequality in Africa: Emmanuel Oluwagbade’s VaxMate Offers a New Path to Equitable Immunisation

By Adekunle Aliu

In 2021, more than 23 million children around the world missed essential vaccinations. In underserved regions, an estimated 2,300 children under the age of five died daily from preventable diseases. Amid this public health crisis, a Nigerian-led innovation is stepping forward, powered not by hospitals or helicopters, but by a mobile phone.

VaxMate, a digital health platform developed by pharmacist and public health advocate Emmanuel Oluwagbade, is using artificial intelligence to improve immunisation access in low-resource communities across Africa. The app provides a personalised, proactive approach to help caregivers keep track of vaccination schedules, access reliable health information, and stay connected to local health services.

Oluwagbade explained that the idea behind VaxMate came from both frustration and hope. As a pharmacist, he had seen how easily families fall through the cracks of traditional health systems. With a growing shortage of healthcare workers and rising mistrust in health institutions, he realised that access alone was not the solution. Caregivers needed something personal, accessible and consistent. VaxMate was designed to fill that gap.

In practical terms, VaxMate functions as a mobile-based assistant. It sends automated reminders for vaccinations, provides education about vaccines and side effects, and recommends nearby health centres. An AI-powered chatbot answers vaccine-related questions in real time and helps users schedule appointments. Designed for ease of use, the app works online and offline, and runs smoothly even on low-end smartphones.

The development team began with over 100 interviews across Nigeria, Ghana and the United States to understand user needs. According to their findings, 60 percent of mothers cited distance and lack of transparency as key reasons for missing appointments. Early feedback from users has been overwhelmingly positive. Many caregivers view the app not only as a helpful tool but as a trusted health companion.

The VaxMate team consists of three core members. Oluwagbade leads strategy and vision. Dr. Blessing Animasaun serves as medical lead, while Dr. Gideon Toluwalase leads the technology and AI development. The team draws from backgrounds in pharmacy, medicine, AI and public health policy. They have participated in accelerator programmes and recently applied for funding to expand outreach and deepen user testing.

Looking ahead, VaxMate is set to evolve beyond immunisation. The team plans to expand into maternal health tracking, nutrition guidance and other preventive care features. In low-income communities, the app will remain free to use through donor and government support. In more developed regions, it will be licensed to health systems and insurers. The ultimate goal is to bridge health gaps and strengthen equity in preventive care.

Oluwagbade believes VaxMate represents a shift in how public health challenges can be addressed in Africa. It is not just about providing services, but about building trust, using technology that fits the context, and creating systems that support caregivers where they are. With mobile phone penetration on the rise, platforms like VaxMate offer a scalable, sustainable solution to one of the continent’s most pressing health issues.

As Oluwagbade put it, “It takes a village to raise a child. With VaxMate, we are building that digital village, one vaccination at a time.”