In a historic move, the Federal Government of Nigeria has officially introduced the malaria vaccine into the national routine immunisation schedule, marking a significant step toward eliminating the deadly disease that has plagued the nation for decades.
This decision comes as part of the government’s commitment to tackling the malaria crisis, which costs Nigeria over $1.1 billion annually and kills thousands of children under five each year.
Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare, said malaria is not just a health crisis, but an economic and developmental emergency.
He underscored the country’s heavy burden, with Nigeria accounting for 27% of global malaria cases and 31% of global malaria deaths.
In 2022 alone, more than 180,000 Nigerian children lost their lives to the disease, a tragedy that is preventable with the new vaccine.
“This is not just a health crisis; it is an economic and developmental emergency,” Prof. Pate declared.
“Malaria reduces productivity, increases healthcare expenses, and fuels poverty. The loss to Nigeria’s economy exceeds $1.1 billion annually, making malaria elimination an urgent priority.”
The malaria vaccine, which will now be part of Nigeria’s regular immunisation programme, is expected to protect millions of children from the devastating disease.
The rollout will begin in Kebbi and Bayelsa states, with plans for further distribution across the country.
The Nigerian government has already received one million doses of the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine, donated by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and delivered with support from UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO). This vaccine is a game-changer in the fight against malaria, offering new hope for a malaria-free Nigeria and Africa.
With malaria being one of the leading causes of death in the country, the introduction of the vaccine could be a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s health transformation and its broader goal to improve the nation’s overall health outcomes.