Nigeria has received a shipment of 846,000 doses of the RTS,S/AS01 (Mosquirix) malaria vaccine from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to bolster efforts against malaria. This vaccine has been shown to significantly reduce cases and mortality among young children in extensive clinical trials across Africa, making Nigeria the third nation to implement it, following Ghana and Kenya, which introduced the vaccine in 2023.
The rollout of the vaccine is scheduled to commence in November, targeting two high-prevalence states: Kebbi and Bayelsa, as announced by Muyi Aina, Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).
Malaria is a year-round concern in southern Nigeria and can persist for up to three months in northern regions, affecting approximately 97% of the population.
During the handover ceremony for the RTS,S/AS01 vaccines in Abuja, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, highlighted the crucial role the vaccine will play in combating malaria cases and fatalities.
Prof. Pate described the vaccine’s arrival as a historic achievement in Nigeria’s battle against malaria, which will significantly enhance ongoing efforts to eliminate the disease. He noted that the initial rollout would focus on regions with the highest disease burden before expanding nationwide.
“Our strategy is to prioritize areas most impacted by malaria, particularly rural regions where healthcare access is limited. With the right infrastructure, political commitment, and ongoing international collaboration, Nigeria is well-positioned to make significant strides in reducing the disease’s impact and working towards malaria elimination,” he stated.
The minister also acknowledged the support from global health partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and Gavi, which are providing both technical and financial assistance to ensure the successful implementation of the malaria vaccine program. He mentioned that USAID and other partners are advocating for a swift scale-up beyond the initial two states.
The Executive Director of NPHCDA, Muyi Aina, further emphasized the vaccine’s importance, noting that Nigeria contributes significantly to the global malaria burden, accounting for approximately 27% of cases and 31% of malaria-related deaths worldwide.
“In 2022, Nigeria recorded nearly 200,000 malaria-related deaths. The most affected groups are children under five and pregnant women, with a national prevalence rate of 22% among children aged 6-59 months as of 2021. The vaccine is expected to accelerate our malaria control and elimination efforts, potentially leading to a 13% reduction in overall mortality among children under five and a 22% decrease in severe malaria hospitalizations,” Aina explained.
He assured that the agency is committed to the vaccine’s deployment, adhering to WHO guidelines that prioritize vaccination in areas with high to moderate transmission. The phased introduction of the vaccine will begin in November in Kebbi and Bayelsa, selected for their high malaria prevalence rates—Kebbi has the highest rate in the country at 52%, while Bayelsa’s target population aligns with the available doses.
The vaccine will be administered to children aged 5 to 15 months as part of Routine Immunization, with each child requiring four doses at 5, 6, 7, and 15 months of age for complete protection.
Expressing confidence in the vaccine’s life-saving potential, Walter Mulombo, WHO’s representative in Nigeria, emphasized that when combined with other preventive measures, the vaccine could significantly lessen the malaria burden in Nigeria and contribute to the goal of achieving a malaria-free Africa.
