In a significant step forward for malaria prevention in Africa, three countries—Benin, Liberia and Sierra Leone—have launched a large-scale rollout of the life-saving malaria vaccine targeting millions of children.
The World Health Organization (WHO) made this known in a statement to commemorate the 2024 World Malaria Day themed; “Advancing health equity, gender equality and human rights,”.
WHO said the vaccine rollout seeks to further scale up vaccine deployment in the African region.
“Today’s launch brings to eight the number of countries on the continent to offer the malaria vaccine as part of the childhood immunization programmes, extending access to more comprehensive malaria prevention,” it said.
“Several of the more than 30 countries in the African region that have expressed interest in the vaccine are scheduled to roll it out in 2025.”
Two safe and effective vaccines — RTS,S and R21 — recommended by WHO are a breakthrough for child health and malaria control.
A pilot malaria vaccine programme in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi reached over two million children from 2019 to 2023, showing a significant reduction in malaria illness and a 13 per cent drop in overall child mortality, and substantial reductions in hospitalizations.
Vaccine roll-out
The global health agency said the rollout is through support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, as efforts continue to widen its deployment in the region in coordination with other prevention measures such as long-lasting insecticidal nets and seasonal malaria chemoprevention.
The statement indicates that Benin, which received 215,900 doses has added the vaccine to its Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI)
It said the malaria vaccine should be provided in a schedule of four doses in children from around five months of age.
The Minister of Health, Benin, Prof Benjamin Hounkpatin, said the introduction of the vaccine into EPI for children is a major step forward in the fight against this scourge.
Prof Hounkpatin reassured that the malaria vaccines are safe and effective and contribute to the protection of children.
In her remark, Liberia’s Minister of Health, Dr Louise Kpoto said malaria has stolen the laughter and dreams of their children for far too long.
Dr Kpoto said with available vaccine and the unwavering commitment of our communities, healthcare workers and our partners, including GAVI, UNICEF and WHO, we break the chain.
“We have a powerful tool that will protect them from this devastating illness and related deaths, ensuring their right to health and a brighter future,” she said.
“Let’s end malaria in Liberia and pave the way for a healthier, more just society.”
The Minister of Health, Sierra Leone, Dr Austin Demby, said the first doses were administered to children at a health centre in Western Area Rural where the authorities kicked off the rollout of 550,000 vaccine doses.
Dr Demby said with the new, safe and efficacious malaria vaccine, the Africa region now have an additional tool to fight this disease.
“In combination with insecticide-treated nets, effective diagnosis and treatment, and indoor spraying, no child should die from malaria infection,” he said.
A game changer
The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, said the region is advancing in the rollout of malaria vaccine, a game-changer in the fight against the deadly disease.
Dr Moeti said malaria remains a huge health challenge in the African region, which is home to 11 countries that carry approximately 70 per cent of the global burden of malaria.
She said the region accounted for 94 per cent of global malaria cases and 95 per cent of all malaria deaths in 2022.
She emphasized that WHO is working with member states and partners, to support ongoing efforts to save the lives of young children and lower the malaria burden.
The Chief Programme Officer at Gavi, Aurelia Nguyen said the introduction of malaria vaccines into routine programmes in the three countries alongside other proven interventions will help save lives and offer relief to families, communities and hard-pressed health systems.
Ms Nguyen said that progress against malaria has stalled in these high-burden African countries since 2017 due to factors including climate change, humanitarian crises, low access to and insufficient quality of health services, gender-related barriers, biological threats such as insecticide and drug resistance and global economic crises.
She said other factors such as fragile health systems and critical gaps in data and surveillance have compounded the challenge.