WHO testing Malaria vaccine in Kenya

WHO says 650,000 children in 3 African countries get malaria vaccine

Nairobi, Kenya | XINHUA | More than 650,000 children in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi have received the malaria vaccine in the last two years since its launch, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday ahead of World Malaria Day to be marked on April 25.

Kate O’Brien, WHO director of the Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals said the three African countries have established robust infrastructure to ensure that children are inoculated against the tropical disease.

“Ghana, Kenya and Malawi show that existing childhood vaccination platforms can effectively deliver the malaria vaccine to children, some of whom have not been able to access insecticide-treated bed net or other malaria prevention measures,” she said in a statement issued in Nairobi.

Our latest data for R21, a new #malaria #vaccine, shows 77% efficacy against infection:
High Efficacy of a Low Dose Candidate Malaria Vaccine, R21 in 1 Adjuvant Matrix-M™, with Seasonal Administration to Children in Burkina Faso @SSRN https://t.co/jHxMVdtqgT

— 🕷The wife scientific🕷 (@ProfKatieEwer) April 23, 2021

In Nanoro, Burkina Faso, where this trial took place, babies and children often suffer multiple episodes of malaria each year. Imagine your kid having several attacks of a potentially deadly infection every year. Look at the reduction in cases in 1 and 2, compared to controls (3) pic.twitter.com/jZZMM0huF8

— 🕷The wife scientific🕷 (@ProfKatieEwer) April 23, 2021

“This vaccine may be key to making malaria prevention more equitable and saving more lives,” she added.

More than 1.7 million doses of the world’s first malaria vaccine candidate called RTS,S have been administered in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi during the pilot phase that was launched in 2019.

“In some ways, malaria is the child health emergency of a lifetime-or many lifetimes- in Africa,” said Akpaka Kalu, team leader for tropical and vector-borne diseases in the WHO African region.

“We applaud the work of participating countries that has resulted in malaria vaccine pilots with strong vaccination coverage that will add to our understanding of the RTS,S vaccine’s potential to improve child health and strengthen malaria control and, potentially reverse trends,” Kalu added.

According to WHO, data generated from the implementation of the pilot phase of malaria vaccination in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi will inform its broader use.

Experts call for long-term investments in malaria fight.

Meanwhile, countries across the sub-Saharan African region should explore fiscal incentives that can stimulate investments in malaria control programs amid the quest to eradicate the tropical disease by 2030, experts said at a virtual forum on Wednesday .

The health experts, policymakers and advocates said that achieving zero malaria targets in Africa is possible subject to adequate financing, political goodwill, research and community engagement.

Elizabeth Chizema, coordinator of Zambia’s End Malaria Council, said that domestic resource mobilization as opposed to over-reliance on dwindling foreign aid is key to bridging malaria funding shortfall in Africa.

“The private sector and home-grown philanthropies can help bridge the financing gap towards malaria control programs in the African continent that has worsened due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Chizema.

She said that the African Leaders Malaria Alliance whose current chair is Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, has prioritized innovative financing as a strategy to aid the elimination of the disease in the continent.

“Government and the private sector continue to renew financial pledges and commitments that will be channeled to high-impact malaria control interventions like expanding access to mosquito-treated nets,” said Chizema.

In some high malaria burden African countries, the industry has supported procurement of commodities and public awareness campaigns on disease prevention, she added.

Hundreds of participants including policymakers, health experts and grassroots campaigners attended the virtual forum on malaria elimination organized by the World Health Organization (WHO) in conjunction with RBM Partnership to End Malaria.

Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa said eliminating malaria will boost economic and social outcomes in a continent that accounts for about 90 percent of global malaria caseload and fatalities.

“Malaria reduces Africa’s economic growth by 1.3 percent annually. It affects productivity and therefore lifesaving and cost-effective interventions should reach communities affected by the disease,” said Moeti.

She hailed milestones achieved in malaria vaccination targeting children below five years in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi, adding that targeted inoculations have hastened progress towards elimination of the vector-borne disease.

Amira Elfadil, African Union Commissioner for Social Affairs said that high burden malaria countries in Africa have renewed commitment to eradicate the disease in line with continental and global targets.

“Africa is making progress towards malaria elimination through strong political commitment and funding,” said Elfadil, adding that the momentum towards achieving zero malaria goal has gathered steam in the continent despite pandemic shocks.

Solomon Feleke, consultant at WHO STOP-Malaria Program in Botswana said that enhanced surveillance, timely diagnosis and treatment are key to boosting malaria control in Africa.

“Training of health workers, improving vector control and case management will deliver high impact and quality intervention for malaria eradication in the continent,” said Feleke.

Odinaka Kingsley Obeta, Zero Malaria champion from Nigeria said that African countries should leverage domestic financing, enhanced data collection, research and training of community health workers in order to boost the war against the disease.

“Long-term investments, use of real-time data to inform malaria interventions and youth-led campaigns are key to boosting progress towards disease elimination in Africa,” said Obeta.

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Xinhua