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A ‘new era’ in malaria control has begun with a vaccination campaign for children in Ivory Coast

by Medical Xpress
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A health worker administers the malaria vaccine Oxford-Serum R21 to a child in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Monday, July 15, 2024. Credit: AP Photo/Diomande Ble Blonde

Health workers in Ivory Coast began giving children the latest malaria vaccine on Monday, the beginning of a regional campaign that experts hope might curb the impact of one of Africa’s top killers.

The West African country became the first to start rolling out the newest shot targeting malaria in an effort that aims to cover about 250,000 children under two. The three-dose vaccine known as R21/Matrix-M was developed by Britain’s Oxford University and was authorized by the World Health Organization last October.

Research suggests it is more than 75% effective at preventing and death in the first year and that protection is extended for at least another year with a booster.

Alice Kanga was one of many who brought their children to get vaccinated Monday. “It’s really important for the children, for their health,” she said.

In 2021, WHO endorsed the first malaria vaccine, known as Mosquirix, made by GSK. But that vaccine requires four doses and protection fades within months. GSK also previously said it would only be able to make about 15 million doses.

But India’s Serum Institute has already made 25 million doses of the Oxford vaccine and says it plans to make at least 100 million every year, at a cost of about $4 per dose.

A 'new era' in malaria control has begun with a vaccination campaign for children in Ivory Coast
A woman waits to administer the malaria vaccine Oxford-Serum R21 to her child in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Monday, July. 15, 2024. Credit: AP Photo/Diomande Ble Blonde

More than 94% of the world’s roughly 249 million malaria cases and 608,000 deaths every year are in Africa. The parasitic disease is spread by mosquitoes and most often strikes children under five and pregnant women.

Pierre Demba, Ivory Coast’s health minister, said the malaria vaccination launch was an indication of the government’s commitment to invest in the country’s .

“They are the future of our country,” he said.

Adrian Hill of Oxford University said in a statement that the Ivory Coast roll-out “marks the start of a new era in malaria control,” adding that he hoped the shot would soon be available to all countries in Africa who wanted to use it.

Still, because vaccines don’t stop the spread of the disease, experts have long warned that other measures like insecticide spraying, improved treatments and the use of bed nets will still be critical.

  • A 'new era' in malaria control has begun with a vaccination campaign for children in Ivory Coast
    A health worker administers the malaria vaccine Oxford-Serum R21 to a child in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Monday, July 15, 2024. Credit: AP Photo/Diomande Ble Blonde
  • A 'new era' in malaria control has begun with a vaccination campaign for children in Ivory Coast
    A health worker administers the malaria vaccine Oxford-Serum R21 to a child in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Monday, July 15, 2024. Credit: AP Photo/Diomande Ble Blonde
  • A 'new era' in malaria control has begun with a vaccination campaign for children in Ivory Coast
    A health worker administers the malaria vaccine Oxford-Serum R21 to a child in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Monday, July 15, 2024. Credit: AP Photo/Diomande Ble Blonde
  • A 'new era' in malaria control has begun with a vaccination campaign for children in Ivory Coast
    A health worker administers the malaria vaccine Oxford-Serum R21 to a child in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Monday, July 15, 2024. Credit: AP Photo/Diomande Ble Blonde
  • A 'new era' in malaria control has begun with a vaccination campaign for children in Ivory Coast
    Women wait to administer the malaria vaccine Oxford-Serum R21 to their children in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Monday, July. 15, 2024. Credit: AP Photo/Diomande Ble Blonde

The Gavi alliance, which helps poor countries buy vaccines, said other countries including the Central African Republic, Chad and South Sudan have also received supplies of the Oxford-developed shot.

© 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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A ‘new era’ in malaria control has begun with a vaccination campaign for children in Ivory Coast (2024, July 15)
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