Nigeria has received 846,000 doses of an innovative malaria vaccine from development partners to reduce the high incidence of the disease in the country, especially among children and other vulnerable groups.
Muhammad Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, announced during Thursday's event in Abuja that vaccines were expected to play a critical role in reducing malaria-related deaths.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that large clinical trials in Africa have shown that the RTS,S/AS01 (Mosquirix) vaccine is effective in reducing malaria cases and mortality among young children.
Malaria affects 97 percent of Nigeria's population. Its transmission occurs throughout the year in the southern regions and lasts up to three months in the northern regions.
The main vectors of malaria are Anopheles coluzzii and Anopheles gambiae, although Anopheles funestus plays a secondary role in some areas.
The vaccines come as Nigeria intensifies its efforts to reduce malaria-related deaths under the National Malaria Strategic Plan (NMSP) 2021-2025.
Pate, a professor, said the vaccine would significantly boost the country's current malaria elimination efforts.
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“Our goal is to prioritize the regions most affected by malaria, especially in rural areas where access to health care is limited,” he said.
He also said the vaccine rollout would begin in high-burden regions before expanding nationwide.
According to him, global health partners, including WHO, UNICEF and Gavi, are providing technical and financial support to ensure the successful rollout of the vaccine.
“USAID and other partners are pushing for rapid expansion beyond the initial two states, with the goal of a nationwide rollout covering all regions of the country,” he said.
historic step
malaria vaccine
He said the arrival of the malaria vaccine marked a historic step in the fight against malaria.
“With adequate infrastructure, political will and continued international collaboration, Nigeria is poised to make substantial progress in reducing the disease's toll and moving towards malaria elimination,” he said.
Muyi Aino, executive director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, announced that the initial launch would target Bayelsa and Kebbi, chosen due to their high malaria burden and logistical challenges.
“In Bayelsa, which has significant riverine zones, reaching remote communities has been a challenge for health interventions.
“However, strengthened health systems and improved cold chain capabilities are expected to ensure the vaccine reaches even the most isolated populations,” he said.
Additional tool against malaria
Eduardo Celades, Chief of Public Health, UNICEF Nigeria
Eduardo Celades, UNICEF Chief of Health in Nigeria, said recent upgrades to the national cold store in Abuja have tripled its storage capacity, while the overall cold chain infrastructure across the country has doubled in the last anus.
“This capacity-building effort ensures that vaccines remain potent and are safely distributed to health centers across the country,” Celades said.
He added that the malaria vaccine is an important addition to Nigeria's toolbox to combat malaria, along with seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) and other preventive measures.
WHO representative in Nigeria, Walter Mulombo, expressed optimism about the vaccine's potential to save lives.
“We are confident that this vaccine, in combination with other preventive measures, will dramatically reduce the burden of malaria in Nigeria and help us move closer to the goal of a malaria-free Africa,” he said.
Gbenga Mokuolu, National Coordinator of the National Malaria Elimination Program (NMEP), hailed the vaccine as a game-changer.
However, he warned that it must be accompanied by continued investment in health infrastructure and education.
“The vaccine is not a magic solution. Sustained efforts, including awareness campaigns and improved healthcare delivery, will be key to ensuring that the benefits of the vaccine reach every corner of the country,” Mokuolu said.
the long wait
In May, Newslodgereported that three other West African countries – Liberia, Sierra Leone and Benin – were ahead of schedule in rolling out malaria vaccines. This newspaper reported that the three countries, with a lower malaria burden than Nigeria, launched thousands of doses of a malaria vaccine in April for babies between 5 and 17 months.
Nigeria lagged behind despite bearing the largest global burden of the disease.
READ ALSO: Nigeria to receive planned malaria vaccine
Newslodgediscovered that Nigeria missed the April launch because the malaria vaccine designated for deployment in Nigeria by GAVI was not ready for distribution.
GAVI's head of malaria vaccines, Scott Gordon, told this newspaper in May that the three countries that began distributing malaria vaccine doses to their children were the ones that received RTS,S, the vaccine that was ready for its distribution at that time.
He said countries were allocated vaccines based on cost along with their level of demand, with Nigeria among other countries receiving the R21 vaccine.
Mr Scott noted that GAVI considered the R21 vaccine to be the most suitable for Nigeria based on the country's needs and plans, as presented in its proposal to GAVI.
However, the batch of vaccine that is about to be delivered to Nigeria is from the WHO, which has opted for RTS,S/AS01 (Mosquirix) for the country.
(YAYA)