ABUJA: The Federal Government has announced that the malaria vaccine will now be included in the national routine immunisation schedule.
This decision comes as part of the government’s commitment to eliminating malaria, which costs the country over $1.1 billion annually due to its health and economic impacts.
At the inaugural meeting of the Advisory on Malaria Elimination in Nigeria (AMEN) in Abuja last week, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister for Health & Social Welfare, highlighted that malaria is not just a health issue but an economic and developmental emergency. He stressed the importance of eradicating the disease.
Malaria continues to impose an unacceptable burden on Nigeria,” Prof. Pate said. “With 27% of global malaria cases and 31% of global malaria deaths, Nigeria carries the heaviest load. In 2022, more than 180,000 Nigerian children under five died from malaria, a tragedy that could be prevented.
The Coordinating Minister further emphasized the severe economic toll of malaria, stating: “This is not just a health crisis; it is an economic and developmental emergency. Malaria hampers productivity, increases out-of-pocket healthcare costs, and exacerbates poverty. The annual loss to Nigeria’s GDP exceeds $1.1 billion, highlighting the urgent need for its elimination.”
Prof. Pate noted that eliminating malaria is a key component of the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII) and aligns with the current administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda for transforming the health sector.
In an official update, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) announced on its X handle that the malaria vaccine will now be part of the national immunisation schedule. This initiative aims to protect millions of children and bring Nigeria closer to a malaria-free future.
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The first phase of the malaria vaccine rollout will begin in Kebbi and Bayelsa states. Malaria remains one of the deadliest diseases in Nigeria and Africa, claiming the lives of hundreds of thousands of children under five each year. Nigeria accounts for about 27% of the global malaria burden and 31% of malaria-related deaths worldwide.
Earlier in October, the federal government received one million doses of the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine, donated by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, with support from UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO). Developed by Oxford University scientists and produced by the Serum Institute of India and Novavax, Nigeria is one of the first countries to implement the R21 vaccine, which is intended for preventing malaria in children under five, not adults.
Dr. Muyi Aina, the Executive Director of NPHCDA, confirmed that the vaccine would be administered to children aged five to 15 months as part of routine immunisation. He said, “The malaria vaccine is now part of the National Immunization Schedule, offering protection to millions of children and moving us closer to a malaria-free future.”
The rollout will be expanded to other states, with the second phase targeting 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and the third phase covering the remaining 15 states, all scheduled for 2025.
