Synopsis
The Gavi vaccine alliance has reported a dramatic decline in malaria cases and deaths among children in 17 African countries following the distribution of 12 million vaccine doses since 2023.Key Takeaways
- 12 million vaccine doses delivered in 17 countries.
- 5 million children vaccinated.
- 70% of global malaria burden.
- 13% reduction in child mortality.
- Plans to protect 50 million children by 2030.
Nairobi, Jan 24 (NationPress) The distribution of 12 million malaria vaccine doses across 17 African nations since the start of 2023 has led to a notable decrease in both caseloads and fatalities among vulnerable groups, particularly children, as stated by the Gavi vaccine alliance.
Approximately five million children in these 17 malaria-prone African countries, which account for over 70 percent of the global malaria burden, have received protection against the disease through vaccination, Gavi reported in a statement from Nairobi, the capital of Kenya.
Gavi’s CEO Sania Nishtar referred to the ongoing implementation of the malaria vaccine as a transformative step in the battle against this mosquito-borne illness.
“This preliminary data serves as a modest indicator of the potential public health impact of a program we aim to significantly expand by the end of this decade, safeguarding tens of millions of children worldwide and alleviating the burden malaria poses on African health systems,” Nishtar remarked.
The effective execution of pilot malaria vaccination initiatives in Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi from 2019 to 2023, which successfully reached two million children and resulted in a 13 percent reduction in overall child mortality, has guided the deployment in other high-burden nations throughout the continent, as per Gavi.
Alongside vaccination, other crucial strategies such as the mass distribution of insecticide-treated nets have played a significant role in curbing malaria transmission and fatalities in Africa, Gavi added.
The launch of the malaria vaccine in countries facing turmoil, such as Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has been praised by the agency for rejuvenating the fight against malaria, Gavi noted.
In 2025, Gavi intends to roll out malaria vaccines in six to eight additional countries, including Uganda, Ethiopia, Guinea, Mali, and Burundi, aiming to protect an extra 13 million children by the year’s end, according to reports from Xinhua news agency.
From 2026 to 2030, Gavi plans to assist high-burden countries in safeguarding an additional 50 million children with four doses of the malaria vaccine, contingent upon available funding.
