A child dies of malaria every two minutes. In line with global health’s “one death is one too many” mantra, in 2021 the World Health Organization recommended the expanded use of the first malaria vaccine among children living in regions with a high burden.
The vaccine — RTS,S — has been criticized for its relatively high rollout costs and low 30% efficacy but WHO says it has resulted in a more than 10% drop in child deaths in three pilot countries: Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi. Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance has since opened up applications for the three pilot countries and other eligible countries to roll out the vaccine nationally.
Health experts said African countries have responded positively to this call despite initial concerns. According to WHO, at least 28 African countries are planning to introduce the vaccine this year, and 13 have already applied for Gavi funding.
About the author
Paul Adepojupauladepoju
Paul Adepoju is a Nigeria-based Devex Contributing Reporter, academic, and author. He covers health and tech in Africa for leading local and international media outlets including CNN, Quartz, and The Guardian. He's also the founder of healthnews.africa. He is completing a doctorate in cell biology and genetics and holds several reporting awards in health and tech.
