On Thursday, Benin, Liberia, and Sierra Leone launched large-scale malaria vaccine programs as part of an Africa-focused initiative aimed at saving tens of thousands of children’s lives annually across the continent.
The vaccine, approved by the World Health Organization, is intended to complement existing tools such as bed nets in the fight against malaria, a disease that claims the lives of nearly half a million children under the age of 5 each year in Africa.
These three West African nations join the ranks after the successful implementation of routine malaria immunization for children in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi, according to a statement from the global vaccine alliance GAVI.
Aurelia Nguyen, GAVI’s Chief Programme Officer, emphasized the significance of this introduction, stating, “This introduction will help save lives and offer relief to families, communities, and hard-pressed health systems.”
GAVI reported that Benin has received 215,900 doses of the vaccine, which will be available to children from approximately 5 months old. Sierra Leone and neighboring Liberia have obtained 550,000 and 112,000 doses, respectively.
The official launch in Benin occurred in the town of Allada, situated 54 km (34 miles) from the country’s largest city, Cotonou. During the launch, 25 children were vaccinated against malaria.
One mother expressed confidence in the vaccine’s safety after receiving explanations from the health minister in the local Fon language during the launch. She pledged to share the information with her neighbors and friends upon returning home.
According to GAVI, the African region is home to 11 countries that bear approximately 70% of the global malaria burden.
Melissa Enoch
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