Malaria Vaccine To Be Distributed To 12 African Nations, Excluding Nigeria: A Promising Step In The Fight Against Malaria

The Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the World Health Organisation, and the United Nations Children’s Fund disclosed this in a joint press statement on Wednesday.

“Malaria remains one of Africa’s deadliest diseases, killing nearly half a million children under the age of five every year,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a briefing.

The Mosquirix (RTS,S) vaccine, developed by British pharmaceutical giant GSK, has already been administered to more than 1.7 million children in three African countries — Ghana, Kenya and Malawi — as part of a pilot program.

“It has been shown to be safe and effective, resulting in a substantial reduction in severe malaria and a fall in child deaths,” Tedros said.

In addition to the three test countries, which will continue to receive doses, nine other countries will benefit from supplies, WHO, UNICEF and the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi) said in a statement.

They are Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Niger, Sierra Leone and Uganda.

The first vaccines are expected to arrive in the last quarter of 2023, and be deployed in early 2024.

Tedros said a second malaria vaccine, the R21/Matrix-M developed by Oxford University and produced by the Serum Institute in India (SII), “is under review for pre-qualification” by the WHO, a procedure aimed at ensuring that health products to be supplied to low-income countries are safe and effective.

“It’s really important to remember nearly every minute a child dies of malaria… (vaccines are) an additional tool in the toolbox to fight against the severe disease, the deaths that occur,” said Kate O’Brien, director of the WHO’s immunisation and vaccines division.

“(It) is a really essential step forward.”

The vaccine “is a step absolutely in the right direction, and it’s the preview of many more millions of doses that will go out,” she said.

The WHO, UNICEF and Gavi estimate that the global demand for malaria vaccines is expected to reach 40-60 million doses annually by 2026 and then between 80-100 million doses annually by 2030.

In 2021, 96 percent of the world’s malaria deaths occurred in Africa.

Malaria — a disease transmitted to humans by the bites of certain types of mosquitoes — killed 619,000 people worldwide in 2021, according to the latest WHO figures.

The inclusion of Nigeria, with its high malaria burden, would have been crucial in the fight against the disease. However, despite its exclusion from the initial list, there is hope for future inclusion as the vaccination program expands. The urgency to address malaria cannot be overstated, as it remains a significant public health challenge in Africa.

Efforts to combat malaria have made remarkable progress, and the introduction of a malaria vaccine is a significant milestone. It offers a glimmer of hope for the millions of individuals at risk of contracting the disease. The collaboration between Gavi, WHO, and UNICEF showcases the global commitment to eradicating malaria and saving lives.

It is imperative that this momentum continues to drive investment, research, and innovation in malaria prevention and control strategies. Alongside vaccination, comprehensive approaches such as insecticide-treated bed nets, effective antimalarial treatments, and community engagement are crucial for reducing the burden of malaria.

By expanding access to the malaria vaccine and strengthening existing interventions, we can make substantial progress towards eliminating malaria as a public health threat. The collective efforts of governments, international organizations, and communities are vital in achieving this ambitious goal. Together, we can ensure a healthier and malaria-free future for the African continent and beyond.