The Nigerian government has officially received one million doses of the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine, a donation from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, marking a significant step forward in the country’s battle against malaria.
The handover ceremony was held on Thursday in Abuja, with the vaccines expected to boost efforts in combating the deadly disease, which remains a major public health challenge.
The World Health Organization, WHO, prequalified the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine in December 2023. This follows an earlier recommendation in October 2023 for its use in children, making it the second malaria vaccine endorsed by the WHO after the RTS, S/AS01 vaccine.
Dr. Muyi Aina, Executive Director of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, highlighted the importance of the vaccine during the ceremony, calling it a testament to President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to public health. Aina noted that Nigeria accounts for 27% of the global malaria burden and 31% of malaria deaths worldwide, with nearly 200,000 deaths recorded in 2022 alone, most of them being children under five and pregnant women.
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The first phase of the vaccine rollout will begin in November in Kebbi and Bayelsa states, with Kebbi selected for its 52% prevalence rate, the highest in the country, and Bayelsa for its target population of 69,935, which aligns with the current vaccine supply. The second phase will cover 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory in 2025, with a third phase targeting the remaining 15 states, also scheduled for next year. Children between five months and 15 months of age will receive the vaccine as part of Nigeria’s routine immunization schedule.
To ensure success, an extensive cross-program coordination mechanism has been established, bringing together stakeholders from the malaria and immunization sectors, with plans to engage community leaders, health workers, and caregivers in the demand generation strategy.
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