Cotonou/Freetown/Monrovia 25 April 2024 –Liberia joins neighboring Sierra Leone and Benin to launch a large-scale rollout of the life-saving malaria vaccine targeting millions of children across the three West African nations. The vaccine rollout, announced on World Malaria Day, seeks further to scale up vaccine deployment in the African region.
Thursday’s launch brings the number of countries on the continent offering the malaria vaccine as part of childhood immunization programs to eight, extending access to more comprehensive malaria prevention. The rest are Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi.
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 the next year 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.
Benin, which received 215 900 doses, has added the malaria vaccine to its Expanded Programme on Immunization. The vaccine should be provided in four doses in children from around five months of age.
“Introducing the malaria vaccine in the Expanded Programme on Immunization for our children is a major step forward in the fight against this scourge. I want to reassure you that the malaria vaccines are safe and effective and contribute to protecting our children against this serious and fatal disease,” said Prof Benjamin Hounkpatin, Minister of Health of Benin.
In Liberia, the vaccine was launched in southern Rivercess County and will be rolled out afterward in five other counties with a high malaria burden. At least 45,000 children are expected to benefit from the 112,000 doses of the available vaccine.
“For far too long, malaria has stolen the laughter and dreams of our children. But today, we break the chain with this vaccine and the unwavering commitment of our communities, healthcare workers, and our partners, including Gavi, UNICEF, and WHO. 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. Let’s end malaria in Liberia and pave the way for a healthier, more just society,” said Dr Louise Kpoto, Liberia’s Minister of Health.
Two safe and effective vaccines—RTS, S, and R21—recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) are a breakthrough for child health and malaria control. A pilot malaria vaccine program in Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi reached over 2 million children from 2019 to 2023, showing a significant reduction in malaria illness, a 13% drop in overall child mortality, and substantial reductions in hospitalizations.
[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1]
In Sierra Leone, the first doses were administered to children at a health center in Western Area Rural, where the authorities kicked off the rollout of 550,000 vaccine doses. The vaccine will then be delivered in health facilities nationwide.
“With the new, safe, and efficacious malaria vaccine, we 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,” said Dr Austin Demby, Minister of Health of Sierra Leone.
Malaria remains a huge health challenge in the African region, which is home to 11 countries that carry approximately 70% of the global burden of malaria. According to the World Malaria Report, the region accounted for 94% of global malaria cases and 95% of all malaria deaths in 2022.
“The African region is taking positive steps in scaling up the rollout of the malaria vaccine – a game-changer in our fight against this deadly disease,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “Working with our partners, we’re committed to supporting the ongoing efforts to protect and save young children’s lives and lower the region’s malaria burden.”
Aurelia Nguyen, Chief Programme Officer at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, noted: “Today we celebrate more children gaining access to a new lifesaving tool to fight one of Africa’s deadliest diseases. This introduction of malaria vaccines into routine programs in Benin, Liberia, and Sierra Leone alongside other proven interventions will help save lives and offer relief to families, communities, and hard-pressed health systems.”
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. Fragile health systems and critical gaps in data and surveillance have compounded the challenge.
To put malaria progress back on track, WHO recommends robust commitment to malaria responses at all levels, particularly in high-burden countries; greater domestic and international funding; science and data-driven malaria responses; urgent action on the health impacts of climate change; harnessing research and innovation; and strong partnerships for coordinated responses. WHO is also calling attention to addressing delays in malaria program implementation.
