Health workers in Ivory Coast have begun administering the latest malaria vaccine to children in an effort to combat one of Africa’s deadliest diseases.
The new vaccine, known as R21/Matrix-M, was developed by Oxford University and has been authorized by the World Health Organization. It is more than 75% effective at preventing severe disease and death in the first year, with protection extending for at least another year with a booster.
The vaccination campaign aims to cover about 250,000 children under two in Ivory Coast, making it the first country in the region to roll out the new shot. India’s Serum Institute has already produced 25 million doses of the vaccine and plans to manufacture at least 100 million doses annually, priced at around $4 per dose.
Malaria remains a significant public health challenge in Africa, where more than 94% of the world’s malaria cases and deaths occur. The disease, transmitted by mosquitoes, primarily affects children under five and pregnant women. Ivory Coast’s health minister, Pierre Demba, emphasized the government’s commitment to investing in the country’s children, calling them “the future of our country.”
Adrian Hill of Oxford University hailed the launch of the malaria vaccination campaign in Ivory Coast as the beginning of a new era in malaria control. While experts stress the importance of additional measures like insecticide spraying, improved treatments, and bed nets in conjunction with vaccination, the new vaccine represents a significant step forward in the fight against malaria.
Other countries in Africa, including the Central African Republic, Chad, and South Sudan, have also received supplies of the Oxford-developed vaccine through the Gavi vaccine alliance. With hopes that the new vaccine will soon be available to all countries in Africa that wish to use it, the campaign in Ivory Coast serves as a milestone in the ongoing efforts to combat malaria on the continent.
