In a monumental stride against malaria, Cameroon marked a historic moment on Monday by initiating the world's first routine vaccine program to combat the deadly mosquito-borne disease. The groundbreaking RTS,S vaccine, developed by GSK over a 40-year period and endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO), is poised to save countless children's lives annually across Africa.
This innovative vaccine, designed to complement existing tools like bed nets, aims to address the alarming toll of malaria in Africa, where nearly half a million children under five succumb to the disease each year. Following successful trials in countries such as Ghana and Kenya, Cameroon takes the lead as the pioneer nation to roll out doses through a routine immunization program, with 19 other countries set to follow suit this year, as revealed by the global vaccine alliance Gavi.
An ambitious target of vaccinating approximately 6.6 million children in these nations through 2024-25 underscores the magnitude of this life-saving initiative. Mohammed Abdulaziz from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expressed the long-awaited anticipation for such a momentous day during a joint online briefing with the WHO, Gavi, and other organizations.
The urgency of this effort is unmistakable. Disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, escalating insecticide resistance, and various challenges have impeded malaria control, leading to a concerning rise of around 5 million cases in 2022 alone, according to the WHO. Over 30 African countries have shown keen interest in introducing the vaccine, and recent progress on a second vaccine has alleviated fears of a potential supply shortage after completing a crucial regulatory milestone in December. The battle against malaria takes a giant leap forward, offering hope and protection to vulnerable communities across the continent.