• Malaria Vaccines Gain Momentum Across Africa, Offering Hope in the Fight Against the Deadly Disease

  • May 7 2025
  • Duración: 3 m
  • Podcast

Malaria Vaccines Gain Momentum Across Africa, Offering Hope in the Fight Against the Deadly Disease

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  • In a significant development in the fight against malaria, several African countries, including Mali, have recently launched or expanded their malaria vaccine programs, marking a crucial step forward in combating this debilitating disease.

    In Mali, the rollout of the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine began on April 25, coinciding with World Malaria Day, in the commune of Kalaban-Coro near Bamako. This initiative is part of a broader effort to protect children from the pervasive threat of malaria, which remains the primary reason for medical consultations, hospital admissions, and deaths among children under five in the country. The vaccine will be deployed in 19 priority health districts across five regions and will target children aged 5 to 36 months, following a five-dose vaccination schedule. This approach complements existing prevention tools such as seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) and the use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets, as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO)[1].

    The R21/Matrix-M vaccine is one of two malaria vaccines that have been prequalified by the WHO. The other is the RTS,S vaccine, which was prequalified in July 2022, while the R21 vaccine received prequalification in December 2023. These prequalifications ensure the safety and quality of the vaccines. By early April 2025, 19 countries in Africa were already offering these malaria vaccines as part of their childhood immunization programs and national malaria control plans. Additional countries are expected to introduce and scale up these vaccines throughout 2025[2].

    The demand for these vaccines is high, with at least 30 African countries planning to integrate them into their childhood immunization programs. The availability of two safe and effective vaccines has ensured sufficient supply to meet this demand, benefiting children in areas where malaria is a major public health risk. For instance, Uganda recently launched the largest malaria vaccine introduction to date, aiming to prevent at least 800 cases of severe malaria among children every day and alleviate the financial burden on families[2][4].

    The introduction of these vaccines comes at a critical time, as global progress towards malaria elimination targets is currently off track. Despite significant reductions in malaria-related mortality in Africa—from 808,000 in 2000 to 580,000 in 2022—challenges such as climate change, drug-resistant strains, and new mosquito variants threaten this progress. The scaling up of malaria vaccines is seen as a key strategy to enhance global malaria elimination efforts[5].

    In summary, the recent rollout and expansion of malaria vaccine programs in Africa represent a significant milestone in the battle against malaria. With the support of local communities, health workers, and religious leaders, these vaccines are poised to make a substantial impact on reducing the burden of malaria, particularly among vulnerable children.
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