Nearly 10 million malaria vaccine doses have been delivered to Africa during the first year of routine immunisation, the Gavi vaccine alliance announced on Wednesday.
The mosquito-borne disease kills nearly 600,000 people annually, with children disproportionately affected, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
A pilot phase from 2019 to 2023 vaccinated over two million children in Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi using the RTS,S vaccine, significantly reducing severe cases and hospitalisations. WHO now recommends RTS,S alongside R21/Matrix-M vaccines.
Routine vaccination began in 2024 in 17 countries, including Cameroon, where early results indicate reduced child mortality. Gavi aims to expand the programme to protect 13 million more children by the end of 2025 and a further 50 million from 2026 to 2030.
Africa accounts for 94% of global malaria cases, with 263 million cases reported in 2023. Children under five represent 76% of malaria deaths.