Gavi donates new Malaria vaccine to Nigeria

Nigeria has received 846,000 doses of the RTS,S/AS01 (Mosquirix) malaria vaccine from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, marking a significant step in the fight against malaria.

Nigeria is now the third African nation, after Ghana and Kenya, to adopt the vaccine.

The rollout is set to begin in November 2024, targeting two States with high malaria prevalence: Kebbi and Bayelsa.

The Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Muyi Aina, highlighted the vaccine’s importance, noting that malaria remains a major public health challenge in Nigeria, affecting 97% of the population.

Southern Nigeria experiences year-round transmission, while northern regions have up to three months of peak transmission annually.

At the vaccine handover in Abuja, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, stressed the crucial role the vaccine will play in reducing malaria cases and deaths.

He called it a “historic milestone” in Nigeria’s efforts to combat malaria, with plans to first roll out in the hardest-hit areas before expanding nationwide.

The Minister emphasized that rural regions, where healthcare access is limited, would be prioritized to maximize the vaccine’s impact.

Prof. Pate also acknowledged the support of global health partners like the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and Gavi in facilitating the vaccine’s introduction.

He noted that other partners, including the United States Agency for International Aids (USAID), are working to ensure the vaccine reaches all parts of the country through an accelerated rollout.

In his remarks, Muyi Aina pointed out that Nigeria contributes 27% of the global malaria burden and 31% of malaria deaths worldwide.

In 2022 alone, nearly 200,000 people in Nigeria died from malaria, with children under five and pregnant women most at risk.

He expressed optimism that the vaccine would help reduce child mortality by 13% and severe malaria cases by 22%.

Aina explained that the vaccine will be introduced in a phased manner, with Kebbi and Bayelsa selected for the first phase.

Kebbi has the highest malaria prevalence rate in the country at 52%, while Bayelsa has a target population of 69,935, aligning with the available doses.

The vaccine will be administered as part of Routine Immunization, with four doses given to children between 5 and 15 months old.

WHO’s representative in Nigeria, Walter Mulombo, shared his optimism about the vaccine’s life-saving potential.

He expressed confidence that when used alongside other preventive measures, the vaccine would significantly reduce malaria cases in Nigeria, bringing the country closer to the goal of a malaria-free Africa.