Nigeria has made a significant move in its fight against malaria with the introduction of the R21/Matrix-M vaccine, the second to be approved by the World Health Organization (WHO). The vaccine was devised by Oxford University and produced by Serum Institute of India.
The nation is among the first to make this move, as malaria is endemic in the country and is a major cause of illness and death, especially among children under five. Nigeria accounts for 27% of global malaria cases and 31% of global malaria deaths.
While malaria is not yet eradicated, the vaccine will complement existing control measures, such as insecticide-treated nets, indoor residual spraying, and environmental sanitation. The vaccine has been reported to be 75% effective and suitable for children between 15 months and five years.
On October 2, 2023, WHO recommended the RTS,S/AS01 and R21/Matrix-M vaccines for the prevention of malaria in children. The former was prequalified in July 2022, while the latter was in December 2023 by, denoting both as safe.
The Distribution of The Vaccine in Nigeria
Nigeria has acquired one million doses of the malaria vaccine, 846,200 of which were supplied by GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, and UNICEF. The Nigerian government purchased 153,800 more to make it a million. The distribution of the vaccine has begun in Bayelsa in the south and Kebbi in the north, two states with a high prevalence of malaria.
The second phase of the vaccination will target the FCT and 19 states; afterwards, the remaining 15 states will be attended to. The federal government aims to roll out the vaccine to all states in Nigeria by 2025.
Parents, particularly mothers, have been advised to ensure their children aged 5 to 11 months receive the vaccine. Parents in Bayelsa expressed their joy and relief that they would no longer need to treat their children frequently, as was the case with the endemic disease. This will yield economic value as funds would also be reserved.
The vaccination schedule includes four doses: the first at five months of age (or up to 11 months if delayed), the second at six months, the third at seven months, and a booster at 15 months (or up to 23 months or later if necessary).
Kebbi has received 595,980 doses, aiming to vaccinate 179,542 children aged 5 to 15 months with the four-dose regimen.
Ogun State Hopes To Be Malaria-Free by 2030
Inspired by the zero malaria feat achieved by Egypt, Dr Tomi Coker, the Ogun State Commissioner for Health, has announced that the state aims to be the first in Nigeria to achieve malaria-free status by 2030. Coker emphasized the state’s commitment to combating malaria and suggested the possibility of hiring carpenters to assist households in each local government ward with installing the recently distributed insecticide-treated nets.
The Society for Family Health, with support from both the State and Federal Governments, as well as other development partners, recently distributed around 2.5 million treated mosquito nets across the state. Coker made this statement during a debriefing on the Insecticide Treated Nets Campaign, held at the Ministry of Health’s conference room at the Governor’s Office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, the state capital.
