No, AU-3S is a long-term programme to strengthen safety surveillance across Africa for novel and innovative products in African Union priority disease areas. These are HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and emergency diseases such as Ebola and COVID-19. AU-3S solutions were developed to meet the needs of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout but aim to also be applicable to any other future medicines or vaccines in a priority disease area.

The AU-3S programme aims to complement ongoing work done by national systems and global organisations – notably the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Uppsala Monitoring Centre (UMC). AU-3S provides an additional layer for data analysis without impacting existing national and global systems. Simultaneously, the programme aims to improve collaboration between countries’ national regulatory authorities and immunisation programmes and create a platform to access and view data in an African context. This will allow for ownership of African data by African countries whilst still sharing with global systems.

This term refers to the principles adopted by the AU-3S programme in implementing all solutions. A “smart” approach adopts the use of pilot studies to show proof of concept before scaling, adapts best practices and experiences learned from previous related initiatives, leverages accessible and evolving technologies (such as mobile reporting apps and artificial intelligence), and ensures early stakeholder engagement and buy-in across all levels of the programme. In adopting a “smart” approach the AU-3S programme aims to develop fit-for-purpose and best-in-class solutions which have been tested and adapted to the local context.