In a groundbreaking move to combat malaria in Africa, Benin, Liberia, and Sierra Leone have initiated large-scale malaria vaccine programs. This initiative, focused on Africa, aims to save the lives of tens of thousands of children each year. The rollout follows successful implementations of routine malaria immunization in other African countries such as Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi, as highlighted by the global vaccine alliance GAVI.
Malaria, a deadly disease in Africa, claims the lives of nearly half a million children under the age of 5 each year. The World Health Organization-approved vaccine is designed to complement existing tools like bed nets in the fight against malaria.
“This introduction … will help save lives and offer relief to families, communities, and hard-pressed health systems,” remarked Aurelia Nguyen, GAVI’s chief program officer.
Benin, Sierra Leone, and Liberia have received substantial doses of the vaccine. Benin has 215,900 doses, Sierra Leone has 550,000 doses, and Liberia has 112,000 doses, according to GAVI.
The official launch in Benin witnessed 25 children receiving the vaccine in the town of Allada, located 54 kilometers from Cotonou, the country’s largest city.
“I came to have my children vaccinated against malaria. It’s important to me because when children get this malaria disease, we spend a lot of money,” expressed Victoire Fagbemi, a 41-year-old mother of four.
Another mother, Victoire Boko, who had her 10-month-old child vaccinated at the launch, shared her experience, stating, “When I get home, I will share the information … with my neighbors and friends.”
With Africa bearing approximately 70% of the global burden of malaria, this initiative marks a significant step towards combating this deadly disease and saving countless lives across the continent.