The Vaccine Alliance (Gavi) is opening a first window for requests for assistance in the deployment of the first vaccine against malaria, capable of protecting many children against this disease in Africa, informs a press release from the institution published on its website.
“The very first mass vaccination against malaria has taken a new step”, welcomed Gavi who specifies that the procedure is for countries to request funding and support for the deployment of the new malaria vaccine RTS,S /AS01.
“Given the technical requirements of vaccine deployment and the need to provide tailored support to countries, this first aid window, which will close on September 13, will be reserved for the three countries that have taken part, over several years, in the Malaria Immunization Pilot Program: Kenya, Ghana and Malawi,” the statement said.
Other countries, where Plasmodium falciparum malaria transmission is moderate to high, can submit an expression of interest in anticipation of a second window which will open at the end of the year and close in January 2023.
“Developing the malaria vaccine has been long and difficult. Today, we are starting a new chapter: this new tool, which comes on top of existing interventions, will allow us to save even more lives in the countries hardest hit by this deadly disease”, suggested Dr. Seth Berkley, Executive Director of Gavi.
The Alliance, which helps immunize the world’s children against some of the world’s deadliest diseases, says the introduction of the RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine, which builds on the success of pilot trials, will be the cornerstone first large-scale malaria vaccination program.
Alongside the interventions against malaria currently recommended, and in addition to the means of protection available, she continues, the vaccine could reduce child mortality in Africa, the continent most heavily affected by this disease, with more than 260,000 children. Africans under the age of five who die every year.
WHO and UNICEF have welcomed the development of the vaccine. “Thanks to this new funding opportunity, this vaccine, the only one in the world against malaria, will be more accessible to African children. Distributed on a large scale, it will prevent millions of cases of malaria, save tens of thousands of lives and ensure a better future for the continent,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director. for Africa, who recalled that “a child dies of malaria every minute in Africa”.
“This is great news: the vaccine was the missing piece in the toolbox that UNICEF started building decades ago to fight malaria,” said Etleva Kadilli, Director of the Supply Division at UNICEF Headquarters, adding that “we look forward to working with Gavi, WHO and other partners to bring this vaccine to the children who need it.”
According to the statement, WHO announced the finalization of the vaccine allocation framework to facilitate the transparent and equitable distribution of available vaccines, and UNICEF signed a purchase agreement for the RTS,S vaccine.
By OMA Newsletter N° 789 of 07/22/2022
Article published under the direction of Dr. Najib Kettani
The OMA, NGO with an Intercontinental vocation
For the development of cultural exchanges
Valuing human potential
The promotion and consolidation of Africa’s development, and
Inter-African integration
