On Monday 22 January, Cameroon launched a massive campaign to vaccinate children against malaria. This is the first on the continent after a pilot phase conducted in three other countries. This is the world’s first systematic and large-scale vaccination campaign against malaria. A historical milestone », according to the World Health Organization (WHO), in the fight against this disease, it is the deadliest among African children.
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Cameroon, the Vaccine Alliance (called Gawi) and the WHO call it ” A historical milestone » In the fight against malaria. On Monday, in a suburb of the capital Yaoundé, a child received his first injection in front of the cameras.
The Government wants to provide RTS,S vaccine free of cost and at the same time other standard routine vaccines for all children under six months of age. A total of 42 health districts are initially targeted, with delivery of 300,000 doses in November, reaching 250,000 children by the end of 2024. Campaign funded in part by Vaccine Alliance, Gavi.
This RTS,S vaccine It is seen as one more tool in the toolbox to fight malaria: it is not considered a miracle cure, but a means to combine prevention, mosquito nets and treatment of the first symptoms as early as possible.
In Africa, ” A child under the age of 5 years dies of malaria almost every minute »
Malaria, a disease transmitted by the bite of certain mosquitoes, kills nearly 500,000 children under the age of five in sub-Saharan Africa each year, representing 80% of deaths in Africa. In Africa, ” A child under the age of 5 years dies of malaria almost every minute “, underlines the WHO, which welcomes Monday” introduction of the vaccine » In mandatory vaccination programs “and” Regular » In countries at risk.
The RTS,S vaccine was developed by the British group GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). Tested since 2019 in Kenya, Ghana and Malawi, it is the first against malaria to be approved by the WHO. In its test phase, it contributed to a 13% reduction in mortality among vaccinated children, as well as a significant reduction in severe forms and hospitalizations, according to the WHO.
The disease kills more than 600,000 people every year
Worldwide, the disease kills more than 600,000 people each year, 95% of them in Africa, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). ” Large-scale implementation of malaria vaccination “east” A historical milestone “WHO” could be a game-changer in the fight against malaria and save thousands of lives every year “, WHO estimates at the end of November.
Vaccination campaigns in Burkina Faso, Niger, Liberia and Sierra Leone should follow in the coming days or weeks, according to the WHO. Another malaria vaccine is also being released: R21 developed by Serum Institute of India.
Beyond Cameroon, the vaccine could benefit much of the African continent, with an estimated effectiveness of 75%, explains Mahamudou Douchi, lecturer in infectious diseases and reference on the subject with the NGO Médecins sans frontières.
“A real reason for hope”, as “the vaccine seems to be more effective in areas where malaria is more seasonal, such as in the Sahel”, but also “in the rest of sub-Saharan Africa”, explains Mahamoudou Douchi.
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