By The rollout of the world’s first malaria vaccine commenced in Cameroon on Monday, marking a significant milestone in Africa’s public health history. The RTS,S vaccine, with 662,000 doses allocated, will be administered to children in Cameroon following successful trials in Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi between 2019 and 2021. This initiative represents an expanded effort to combat malaria in Africa, where 95% of malaria-related deaths occur, particularly among children under five.
Dr. Mohammed Abdulaziz, the division head at the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, emphasized the transformative impact of this development on public health in Africa. Effective communication with the public is deemed crucial for the vaccine’s success, ensuring trust, encouraging complete vaccination, and conveying its effectiveness when combined with other preventive measures like bed nets.
Public health experts stress the importance of clear messaging, community engagement, and utilizing trusted voices, including health workers closely connected to communities. The World Health Organization anticipates that the RTS,S vaccine, also known as Mosquirix, based on trial data, could save tens of thousands of lives.
Nineteen more African countries plan to introduce the vaccine this year, targeting 6.6 million children. Deliveries are scheduled for Burkina Faso, Liberia, Niger, and Sierra Leone. Cameroon has experienced excitement and positive reception since the vaccine’s arrival in November, with community meetings addressing concerns and promoting awareness.
While some challenges exist, the overall sentiment is one of optimism and hope. Families are eager for this development, recognizing the potential to reduce the impact of malaria, a disease that significantly affects their lives.
In the city of Douala, Cameroon, a mother expressed her happiness despite her child’s tears during vaccination. She hopes the vaccine will protect her daughter from malaria, a prevalent issue in their mosquito-prone neighborhood. A nurse emphasized the vaccine’s significance, considering Cameroon’s high malaria cases and mortality rates among children under five.
Representatives from GlaxoSmithKline, the producer of the vaccine, expressed their satisfaction after over 35 years of dedicated work. Additionally, a second malaria vaccine, R21/Matrix-M from the University of Oxford, is expected to roll out later this year.
