Nigeria has received 846,000 doses of a ground-breaking malaria vaccine from development partners to reduce the country’s high incidence of the disease, especially among children and other vulnerable groups.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, announced this in Abuja on Thursday, October 17, 2024.

Pate said the vaccines would play a pivotal role in lowering malaria-related deaths.

The large clinical trials in Africa proved vaccine RTS,S/AS01 (Mosquirix) as effective in reducing contracting malaria cases and mortality among young children.

Nigeria is the third African country to introduce the vaccine, following Ghana and Kenya, which began using it in 2023.

The vaccines come as Nigeria intensifies efforts to reduce malaria-related deaths under the National Malaria Strategic Plan (NMSP) 2021–2025.

Pate said the vaccine would significantly boost the country’s ongoing malaria elimination efforts.

“Our target is to prioritise regions most affected by malaria, particularly in rural areas where access to healthcare is limited,” the minister stated.

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He said the vaccine rollout would begin in high-burden regions before expanding nationwide.

According to him, global health partners, including WHO, UNICEF, and Gavi, are providing technical and financial support to ensure the successful implementation of the vaccine.

“USAID and other partners are pushing for rapid scale-up beyond the initial two states, aiming for a nationwide rollout to cover all regions of the country,” Pate added.

Pate further stated that the arrival of the malaria vaccine marked a historic step in the fight against malaria, saying: “With proper infrastructure, political will, and continued international collaboration, Nigeria is poised to make substantial progress in reducing the disease’s toll and moving toward malaria elimination.”

Also speaking, the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Muyi Aino, said the initial rollout would target Bayelsa and Kebbi States, due to their high malaria burden and logistical challenges.

He said: “In Bayelsa, which has significant riverine areas, reaching remote communities has been a challenge for health interventions.

“But, the strengthened healthcare systems and enhanced cold chain capabilities are expected to ensure the vaccine reaches even the most isolated populations.”

The Star