Nigeria Introduces the R21 Vaccine in a Pivotal Move for Malaria Control

Nigeria has made a significant breakthrough in the fight against malaria by introducing the R21 vaccine. This move is expected to save countless lives, especially among children under five years old, who are most vulnerable to the disease.

The R21 vaccine, developed by the Jenner Institute and the Serum Institute of India, has shown high efficacy in clinical trials. Nigeria has received over 1 million doses of the vaccine, with 846,200 doses provided by GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, and 153,800 doses procured by the Nigerian government.

The vaccine will be administered in four doses to children under one year old as part of Nigeria's Routine Immunization schedule. The rollout will begin in two states with high malaria prevalence: Bayelsa and Kebbi.

Key Benefits of the R21 Vaccine:

- High Efficacy: The vaccine has shown significant efficacy in preventing malaria cases and deaths.
- Low Cost: The vaccine is priced at less than $4 per dose, making it an affordable solution for malaria prevention.
- Wide Coverage: The vaccine will be administered to children under one year old, providing widespread protection against malaria.

This initiative is a significant step towards reducing malaria-related illnesses and deaths in Nigeria, which accounts for approximately 27% of the global malaria burden.

https://www.afro.who.int/countries/nigeria/news/nigeria-introduces-r21-vaccine-pivotal-move-malaria-control