Cameroon has embarked on a historic journey by initiating the world’s first routine malaria vaccination program, poised to make a profound impact on child mortality across Africa. After nearly four decades in the making, the RTS,S vaccine developed by British pharmaceutical company GSK and approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO) is now being deployed alongside existing malaria control tools such as bed nets to combat the devastating disease. Malaria in Africa claims the lives of nearly half a million children under the age of five each year.
Cameroon, following successful trials including those conducted in Ghana and Kenya, becomes the first country to administer these life-saving doses as part of a routine program. Nineteen additional nations plan to roll out similar initiatives this year, demonstrating the widespread commitment to eradicating malaria, particularly in Africa.
This landmark development comes after years of dedicated research and collaboration between researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine’s The Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia, local communities, and volunteers across Africa. Their tireless efforts have culminated in the availability of the RTS,S vaccine as a routine vaccination, a testament to the power of international partnerships and community engagement.
It's official!
Cameroon🇨🇲 has now introduced the RTS,S malaria vaccine into its expanded vaccination programme, following a 4-dose schedule.
Baby Daniella is the first baby to be vaccinated!#VaccinesWork pic.twitter.com/GIYhS8lpBw— WHO African Region (@WHOAFRO) January 22, 2024
The urgency of this program is underscored by the challenges faced in recent years. Disruptions linked to the COVID-19 pandemic, rising insecticide resistance, and other obstacles have hindered malaria control efforts, with cases increasing by approximately five million year-on-year in 2022, according to WHO data. Globally, 249 million malaria cases and 608,000 malaria-related deaths were reported in 2022, with children under five accounting for roughly 80% of all malaria deaths in the African region.
Over 30 countries in Africa have expressed interest in introducing the vaccine, and the fears of a supply shortage have eased with the prequalification of a second malaria vaccine, R21, developed by Oxford University and the Serum Institute of India. This regulatory milestone, approved by the WHO, opens the door to global vaccine distribution, and its deployment is expected to alleviate the demand-supply gap and potentially save tens of thousands of young lives, primarily in Africa.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, emphasised the significance of having two malaria vaccines to address this pressing health challenge. The launch of these vaccination programs is accompanied by extensive community outreach efforts to combat vaccine hesitancy and reinforce the importance of continuing to use established malaria prevention tools.
The recommended vaccination schedule consists of four doses administered to children from approximately five months of age, with consideration of a fifth dose in high-risk areas after one year. This momentous step not only offers hope for reducing malaria’s toll but also signifies Africa’s resilience and determination to protect its most vulnerable citizens.
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