One year after introduction of malaria vaccine: WHO reveals drop in number of reported cases in Cameroon.

The information is contained in a recent report published on the official website of the international organisation.

The report states that initial findings from health facilities across the country indicate a decline in malaria cases among children under five years old. It revealed that in 2024, the 42 health districts participating in Phase I of the vaccine roll-out reported 266,917 malaria cases, compared to 333,805 cases in 2023, a reduction of 66,888 cases.

It emerged from the report that Cameroon, as part of WHO’s routine immunisation programme, incorporated the malaria vaccine through a four-dose protocol in 42 high-malaria-burden health districts, and as at December 31, 2024, approximately 366,000 doses of the vaccine had been administered to infants. 

However, the Expanded Programme on Immunisation, EPI, conducted a post-introduction mini-assessment and found that immunisation coverage was below target even though the country had implemented continuous monitoring and parent mobilisation strategies.

According to the report, the Cameroon responded by launching catch-up campaigns in September and December 2024 to immunise all children. 

These campaigns significantly increased immunisation coverage of children who have received all three doses from 25% in April 2024 to 40% in September and 48% by the end of December. Meanwhile, first-dose immunisation coverage stood at 65% by the year-end.

“The improved coverage, particularly for the third dose demonstrates the success of the catch-up campaign, along with other interventions. We must sustain and improve immunisation coverage, because the benefits for our children are tremendous,” EPI Deputy Permanent Secretary, Dr Njoh Andreas Ateke, stated in the report. 

In order to significantly reduce the malaria burden in Cameroon, immunisation efforts are being complemented by other preventive measures such as larval control, preventive treatment and use of long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets.

In 2024, thirteen African countries introduced the malaria vaccine into their routine immunisation programmes. 

In the short term, WHO aims to scale up malaria immunisation in the 13 participating countries and support the vaccine roll-out in eight new priority countries, while continuing to closely monitor data on vaccine administration and safety.

“Our goal is to ensure that this vaccine complements other malaria-control interventions to help reduce malaria incidence and mortality by 90% by 2030,” the head of the vaccine-preventable diseases unit at WHO Regional Office for Africa, Dr Charles Shey, stated. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post issue No:3362 of Friday February 7, 2025