CAMEROON took a groundbreaking step on Monday by commencing the world’s first-ever vaccination campaign against malaria, a disease that annually claims hundreds of thousands of lives, notably among children in Africa.
Mohammed Abdulaziz, the head of Disease Control at the Africa Centre for Disease Controls, declared the initiative as a historic and life-saving intervention in the ongoing battle against malaria. Addressing the press, Abdulaziz stated, ‘The vaccination is a beacon of hope in our collective effort to combat the devastating impact of malaria.’
Cameroon, burdened by a high prevalence of malaria, particularly in young children, emerged as a prime candidate for this pioneering vaccination campaign, according to Abdulaziz.
The campaign, supported by key global health entities such as the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the Vaccine Alliance Gavi, aims to systematically integrate the ‘RTS, S’ vaccine into Cameroon’s routine childhood immunization schedule.
Aurelia Nguyen, Chief Programme Officer at Gavi, highlighted that the initial rollout will introduce the RTS, S vaccine in 42 districts. The vaccination will be administered alongside other essential vaccines, ensuring comprehensive and sustained coverage among young children.
The RTS, S malaria vaccine follows a 4-dose schedule for children living in regions with moderate to high malaria transmission. The recommended starting age for the series is 5 months, with subsequent doses administered at monthly intervals until the child reaches 9 months. A booster dose is then recommended at 2 years of age.
The World Health Organisation’s 2021 World Malaria Report underscores the severity of the malaria situation in Sub-Saharan Africa, accounting for approximately 95 percent of global cases and 96 percent of deaths. Children under five face the greatest risk, with an estimated 263,000 lives lost in 2020 alone.
Cameroon’s pioneering move to introduce malaria vaccination holds promise for reducing the staggering toll of this disease on vulnerable populations, marking a significant stride in global health efforts.