Nationwide vaccination against malaria kicks off today.

According to the minister’s release, following the reception of the first dose of the RTS, S Vaccine, the country is now set to launch the campaign. The campaign targets over 249,133 children in the first phase.

The vaccines, according to Minister Manaouda, will help strengthen the fight against malaria and reduce disease-related morbidity and mortality; especially among children under the age of five.

This campaign was reechoed January 12, during a meeting organised by the Expanded Program on Immunisation, EPI, to strategise for a full coverage of the targeted areas.

According to EPI, the first phase of the campaign will cover some 42 Health Districts, which has been shortlisted by them as a result of their high morbidity and mortality in collaboration with the National Malaria Control Program, PNLP. 

Information gathered indicates that in the Centre Region for example, the vaccination campaign will take place in the localities of Soa and Mfou, in the Mefou and Afamba Health Districts, and equally in the locality of Yoko, in the Mbam and Kim Division.

According to the Permanent Secretary of EPI, Dr Tchokfe Shalom Ndoula, given the limited quantity of the vaccines, they thought it wise to select Districts that are greatly affected by malaria with a high mortality rate of children suffering from the disease.

“We selected 42 Health Districts and we plan to cover the entire country once we receive more doses of the vaccines. The vaccines will be administered to six months old babies,” Dr Tchokfe Shalom said.

Recall that in December 21, 2023, the country received its first shipment of 331,200 doses of the malaria. The vaccine, RTS, S, commercially known as Mosquirix, is developed by the British pharmaceutical giant GSK and supported by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. 

It will be administered in a four-dose schedule at 6, 7, 9, and 24 months. The country is expecting to receive some 1.3 million doses of the vaccines from the partner.

The vaccine, experts say, even though might not completely eliminate malaria from a patient, will contribute greatly to fight against all forms of malaria and kill the parasites in the system.

Cameroon received its first shipment of vaccine on December 21, 2023, as part of the country’s efforts to control the disease. The country is set to receive another dose of the vaccines, which will amount to a total of 1.3 million doses.

According to a data from the PNLP, in 2022, the disease accounted for 29.6% of all medical consultations and hospitalisation problems, with over 3.3 million cases registered and 2,481 deaths reported, primarily among children under the age of five.

The RTS, S Vaccine

RTS, S Vaccine is the first vaccine recommended by the World Health Organisation, WHO, to prevent malaria in children. The pediatric vaccine acts against Plasmodium falciparum, which according to medics is the deadliest malaria parasite globally, and the most prevalent in Africa. 

The RTS, S Vaccine reduces the number of times a child gets malaria, including severe, life-threatening malaria. It also reduces child deaths.

The WHO recommends that the vaccine be used as an additional tool for the prevention of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in children living in areas of moderate to high malaria transmission.