The Federal Government has received one million doses of the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine, donated by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
The handover ceremony took place on Thursday in Abuja, marking a significant step in Nigeria’s fight against malaria.
In December 2023, the World Health Organisation (WHO) added the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine to its list of prequalified vaccines, enabling wider access.
WHO recommended the vaccine for preventing malaria in children, following the advice of its Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunisation and the Malaria Policy Advisory Group. This prequalification allows UNICEF to procure the vaccine and facilitates funding support from Gavi for its deployment.
The R21 vaccine is the second malaria vaccine to receive WHO prequalification, following the RTS, S/AS01 vaccine in July 2022. Both vaccines have proven to be safe and effective in clinical trials for preventing malaria in children.
During the handover, the Executive Director and CEO of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Muyi Aina praised the arrival of the vaccines as a reflection of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to safeguarding Nigerians’ health.
He highlighted Nigeria’s substantial malaria burden, with the country accounting for 27% of the global malaria cases and 31% of malaria deaths worldwide.
In 2022 alone, nearly 200,000 deaths occurred from malaria, primarily affecting children under five and pregnant women.
Aina emphasized the potential impact of the R21 vaccine in reducing malaria-related mortality and severe cases in children. “The vaccine could lead to a 13% reduction in all-cause mortality in children under five and a 22% reduction in hospitalized severe malaria cases,” he noted.
The first phase of vaccination will begin in November in Kebbi and Bayelsa states, chosen due to their high prevalence rates and alignment with the available doses. Kebbi, with a prevalence rate of 52%, has the highest in the country, while Bayelsa’s target population matches the available vaccine supply.
The vaccine will be administered to children aged 5 to 15 months as part of routine immunization, with each child requiring four doses. Future phases will expand to 19 states and the FCT in 2025, followed by the remaining 15 states.
To ensure the success of the rollout, a cross-program coordinating mechanism has been established, involving key stakeholders in malaria control and immunization at national and subnational levels. A robust demand generation strategy, focused on community needs and engagement, has also been developed to support the vaccination campaign.
