Cameroon has launched the world's first regular vaccination program against malaria, which is a significant boost in the global fight against the mosquito-borne disease. It is expected to save the lives of tens of thousands of children annually across Africa. The vaccine, developed over a period of about 40 years by GlaxoSmithKline and approved by the World Health Organization, is intended to work alongside existing tools such as insecticide-treated bed nets to combat malaria, which kills nearly half a million children under the age of five in Africa each year.
According to the Global Vaccine Alliance (Gavi), Cameroon is the first country to offer the vaccine through a regular vaccination program, with 19 other countries aiming to launch it this year following successful trials in several countries, including Ghana and Kenya. The malaria vaccination will target approximately 6.6 million children in these countries during 2024 and 2025.
The need for malaria vaccinations is urgent. The World Health Organization states that disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, rising insecticide resistance, and other factors have hindered malaria control efforts in recent years, resulting in an increase of around five million cases annually in 2022.
