Shipment of newest malaria vaccine, r21, to central African republic marks milestone for child survival

In a significant development for child survival, the Central African Republic has received a shipment of over 43,000 doses of the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine.

UNICEF delivered the vaccine by air to Bangui, making it the first country to receive the R21 malaria vaccine for routine childhood immunization.

This milestone represents a crucial step forward in preventing the disease and saving children’s lives.

The R21 vaccine, recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for children living in endemic areas, joins the earlier WHO-recommended RTS,S vaccine.

With both vaccines now available, there is sufficient supply to scale up malaria vaccination efforts across Africa. The rollout of these vaccines is funded by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

Game Changer for Child Survival and Health

“Having two safe and effective vaccines means we have greater supply security and can be more confident about meeting countries’ needs,” stated Dr. Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. “That is what matters most – that countries where our vaccines can be most impactful are able to access them, saving thousands of lives each year and offering relief to families, communities, and entire health systems.”

The R21 and RTS,S vaccines have demonstrated safety and efficacy in preventing malaria in children. The RTS,S vaccine was previously delivered to over 2 million children in Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi during a four-year pilot program, resulting in a 13% reduction in all-cause mortality.

Malaria: A Lethal Disease

Malaria remains one of the world’s deadliest diseases, claiming nearly half a million children under 5 years of age annually in Africa.

The Central African Republic faces a high incidence of malaria, with an estimated 1,733,000 cases reported in 2022 – an average of about 4,747 cases per day.

Tragically, the disease also caused approximately 5,180 deaths during the same year, equating to 14 deaths each day.

Expanding Vaccine Access

Central African Republic, along with Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Sudan, and Uganda, is preparing to receive R21 shipments. Additionally, around 4.33 million doses of the RTS,S vaccine have been delivered to eight countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, and Sierra Leone.

These countries are incorporating the vaccine into their routine child immunization programs as part of national malaria control plans. Burundi and Niger are next on the list for RTS,S shipments.

Supporting Vaccine Implementation

Gavi, UNICEF, WHO, and partners are actively supporting governments as they prepare to receive and introduce the vaccines. This support includes developing vaccine implementation plans, communication strategies, health worker training, and ensuring sufficient cold chain capacity.

“Malaria vaccines, integrated into comprehensive national malaria control plans, will substantially reduce early childhood deaths and revitalize the fight against malaria,” emphasized the joint statement. With the R21 vaccine now joining the RTS,S vaccine in country immunization programs, the scale-up of malaria vaccination across parts of Africa – where malaria remains a major cause of childhood death – will continue. The high community demand for malaria vaccines underscores the urgency of this effort.