Three West African countries roll out vaccines to prevent malaria

Benin, Liberia, and Sierra Leone have launched a large-scale rollout of the life-saving malaria vaccine, targeting millions of children across the three West African nations. 

The recent rollout announced during World Malaria Day is a combined effort of the Benin, Liberia, and Sierra Leone governments, and their partners, including Gavi, UNICEF, and WHO.

Benin received 215,900 doses and has added the malaria vaccine to its Expanded Programme on Immunisation. 

"The introduction of the malaria vaccine in the Expanded Programme on Immunisation for our children is a major step forward in the fight against this scourge," said Prof. Benjamin Hounkpatin, Minister of Health of Benin. 

"I would like to reassure you that the malaria vaccines are safe and effective and contribute to the protection of our children against this serious and fatal disease,” he added. 

Liberia, on its end, launched the vaccine in southern Rivercess County and will roll it out in five other high-burden counties, with 45,000 children expected to benefit from the 112,000 doses available. 

"For far too long, malaria has stolen the laughter and dreams of our children. But today, with this vaccine and the unwavering commitment of our communities, healthcare workers, and our partners, including Gavi, UNICEF, and WHO, we break the chain," said Dr. Louise Kpoto, Liberia's Minister of Health. "

“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,” the minister added.

Sierra Leone initiated the delivery of 550,000 vaccine doses across all health facilities nationwide. 

Dr. Austin Demby, Minister of Health of Sierra Leone, stated that with the new, safe, and efficacious malaria vaccine, the country had an additional tool to fight the disease. 

"In combination with insecticide-treated nets, effective diagnosis and treatment, and indoor spraying, no child should die from malaria infection,” Dr Demby stated. 

While concurring with the ministers, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, hoped that more countries would follow suit in the coming year in the launch of the malaria vaccine.

Dr Moeti added that Africa was taking positive steps in scaling up the rollout of the malaria vaccine—a game-changer in the fight against the deadly disease.

Malaria remains a significant health challenge in the African region, accounting for 94 per cent of global malaria cases and 95 per cent of all malaria deaths in 2022. 

However, the introduction of the malaria vaccine is expected to protect millions of children from this deadly disease. The rollout, announced on World Malaria Day, further seeks to scale up vaccine deployment in Africa. 

Other than Benin, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, five more African nations rolled out the malaria vaccine as part of childhood immunisation programmes in 2024, extending access to more comprehensive prevention measures. 

The five countries are Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi. 

Since 2019, Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi have been administering the vaccine in a schedule of 4 doses from around 5 months of age in selected districts as part of the pilot programme, known as the Malaria Vaccine Implementation Programme (MVIP). 

More than 2 million children have been reached with the malaria vaccine in three African countries through MVIP, resulting in a remarkable 13 per cent drop in all-cause mortality in children age-eligible to receive the vaccine and substantial reductions in severe malaria illness and hospitalisations.