Cameroon rolls out world’s first malaria vaccine

By: BBC 1 min read
Cameroon rolls out world’s first malaria vaccine
Malaria vaccine containers are seen during the launch of the extension of the worlds first malaria vaccine (RTS, S) pilot program for children at risk of malaria illness and death within Kenyas lake-endemic region at Kimogoi Dispensary in Gisambai on March 7, 2023. - The pilot program coordinated by the World Health Organization (WHO) has provided malaria vaccines in three countries, Ghana, Malawi and Kenya, since 2019. More than 1.2 million children under five years old have received at least one dose of t

Cameroon is rolling out the world’s first routine vaccine programme against malaria, in a global fight projected to save thousands of children’s lives across Africa.

The World Health Organization (WHO)-approved RTS,S vaccine, developed by British drugmaker GSK, is targeting infants in Cameroon’s 42 worst-affected districts.

The central African country will be the first country to administer doses through a routine immunisation programme, following successful pilot campaigns in Kenya, Ghana and Malawi.

The rollout, due to start on Monday, was described by health officials as a milestone in the decades-long effort to curb malaria in the continent.

Twenty other countries aim to roll out the programme this year, according to global vaccine alliance Gavi.

The four-dose vaccine is only about 30% effective and protection begins to fade after several months.

GSK said it can only produce about 15 million doses a year.

BBC

BBC