Oct. 17, 2024

Nigeria has received the first batch of 846,000 doses of the R21 malaria vaccines, from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

According to the Minister of Health, Ali Pate, he described the arrival of the vaccines as a significant milestone in the government’s efforts to eliminate malaria in the country.

He said the vaccines would first be distributed to states with the highest burden of the disease, particularly Kebbi and Bayelsa and would serve as a complement to other treatments for malaria.

Pate also cleared the air on concerns about the efficacy of the vaccine, stating that it has proven to be safe and efficient for malaria treatment.

He also said the vaccine rollout would begin in high-burden regions before expanding nationwide.

According to him, global health partners, including WHO, UNICEF, and Gavi, are providing technical and financial support to ensure the successful implementation of the vaccine.

“USAID and other partners are pushing for rapid scale-up beyond the initial two states, aiming for a nationwide rollout to cover all regions of the country”, he said.

He said that the arrival of the malaria vaccine marked a historic step in the fight against malaria.

“With proper infrastructure, political will, and continued international collaboration, Nigeria is poised to make substantial progress in reducing the disease’s toll and moving toward malaria elimination,” he said.

Also, the Director General of the NPHCDA, Muyi Aina, explained the plans for distribution, adding that an enforcement team would be set up by the agency and the date and location for the administration of the vaccines would be communicated in due course.

Aina said about 140,000 doses are expected in the coming months as the target is to make available one million vaccines for the first batch.

The R21 malaria vaccine, which would be administered in two doses was produced by the Serum Institute of India.

Dr Eduardo Celades, UNICEF Chief of Health in Nigeria, said recent upgrades to the national cold store in Abuja have tripled its storage capacity, while the overall cold chain infrastructure across the country has doubled in the past year.

“This capacity-building effort ensures that vaccines remain potent and are safely distributed to health facilities nationwide,” Celades said.

He added that the malaria vaccine is a significant addition to Nigeria’s toolbox for combating malaria, alongside seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) and other preventative measures.

The WHO representative in Nigeria, Dr Walter Mulombo, expressed optimism about the vaccine’s potential to save lives.

“We are confident that this vaccine, in combination with other preventive measures, will drastically reduce the burden of malaria in Nigeria and help us move closer to achieving the goal of a malaria-free Africa”, he said.

Prof. Gbenga Mokuolu, National Coordinator of the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), hailed the vaccine as a game-changer.

He, however, cautioned that it must be paired with continued investment in healthcare infrastructure and education.

“The vaccine is not a magic bullet. Sustained efforts, including awareness campaigns and improved healthcare delivery, will be key to ensuring that benefits of the vaccine reach every corner of the country,” Mokuolu said.

The official launch of the vaccines on Thursday was attended by officials of the Ministry of Health, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and development partners. (NAN).