Three African countries launch malaria vaccination campaign

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New York - Benin, Liberia and Sierra Leone began today to vaccinate millions of children against malaria, whose disease is responsible for the deaths of thousands of them, WHO and UNICEF said today.

The three countries thus join other states on the continent that already offer the vaccine as part of their childhood vaccination programs, according to the statement from the specialized UN agencies.

Since 2019, more than two million children have been vaccinated in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi during a pilot phase of the program, resulting in a significant reduction in severe malaria cases and hospital admissions.

"With the new, safe and effective malaria vaccine, we now have an additional tool to combat this disease," said doctor Austin Demby, Minister of Health of Sierra Leone, quoted in the statement.

"Combined with insecticide-treated mosquito nets, effective diagnosis and treatment and indoor spraying, no child will have to die from a malaria infection," he added.

Benin has received 215,900 doses, while Liberia expects 45,000 children to benefit from the initial 112,000 doses. Sierra Leone has 550,000.

Two RTS,S and R21 vaccines recommended by the WHO were welcomed as a breakthrough in child health and the fight against malaria.

According to the WHO, the pilot program carried out in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi made it possible to drastically reduce cases of malaria, reduce global child mortality by 13% and considerably reduce the number of hospitalizations.

The vaccine must be administered in a four-dose schedule. DSC/AM