New Malaria Vaccines Rollout in Africa Brings Hope to Millions

Africa is witnessing a significant milestone in the fight against malaria with the rollout of two new vaccines, RTS,S/AS01 and R21/Matrix-M. The latter was shipped to the Central African Republic on May 24th, offering hope to millions of parents in the region.

The RTS,S/AS01 vaccine, approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2021, has already been administered to nearly 2 million children in Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi. This year, it is being introduced in seven more countries. The R21/Matrix-M vaccine, which is more affordable and can be produced in higher volumes, began its distribution in the Central African Republic, marking a significant step in combating malaria.

Malaria remains a significant threat in Africa, with nearly all of the 600,000 annual malaria deaths occurring on the continent. The disease is particularly deadly for children under five, with a child dying every two minutes as a result of malaria. The introduction of these vaccines is expected to reduce the high incidence of malaria and save countless lives.

The R21/Matrix-M vaccine, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, has shown a 68% reduction in disease contraction over a 12-month period, compared to 56% for RTS,S. It is priced at $4 per dose, significantly lower than the $10 per dose for RTS,S. The Serum Institute plans to produce 100 million doses annually by 2025, whereas RTS,S production, managed by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), is expected to reach 18 million doses by 2025.

Why this matters: Malaria is a significant public health threat in Africa, and the rollout of these vaccines has the potential to save countless lives and reduce the economic burden of the disease. If successful, this rollout could pave the way for further vaccine distribution and disease prevention efforts across the continent.

UNICEF delivered over 43,000 doses of the R21/Matrix-M vaccine to Bangui, Central African Republic, with more than 120,000 doses to follow in the coming days. This rollout is part of a broader effort to distribute 25 million doses of R21 and 6.6 million doses of RTS,S across Africa this year.

Gavi, the global vaccine alliance, and UNICEF are primarily responsible for purchasing and distributing these vaccines at a fraction of the market rate. However, there are logistical challenges, including ensuring that countries can scale up their malaria vaccination programs without switching products, which could add complexity and delay the rollout.

Zacharia Kafuko, a Zambian biochemist, emphasized the need for African countries to have the autonomy to purchase the vaccines they need, given that they rely on Gavi's support. "African countries should have the autonomy to purchase the vaccines they need, given that they rely on Gavi's support to do so," Kafuko stated.

The rollout of the RTS,S/AS01 and R21/Matrix-M vaccines in Africa represents a major advancement in the fight against malaria. With millions of doses being distributed, these vaccines offer a promising solution to reduce the high incidence of malaria and save countless lives across the continent.

Key Takeaways

• Africa rolls out two new malaria vaccines: RTS,S/AS01 and R21/Matrix-M.
• R21/Matrix-M vaccine shows 68% reduction in disease contraction over 12 months.
• R21/Matrix-M vaccine is priced at $4 per dose, significantly lower than RTS,S.
• 25 million doses of R21 and 6.6 million doses of RTS,S to be distributed across Africa in 2023.
• Vaccines aim to reduce high incidence of malaria and save countless lives in Africa.