Cameroon received its initial delivery of Mosquirix malaria vaccines produced by the GSK laboratory. Cameroon became the first African country to receive the vaccine following the pilot phase conducted in Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi.
The country received 331,200 doses of Mosquirix, also known as RTS-S, marking the first malaria vaccine recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Dr. Shalom Tchokfe, the Permanent Secretary of the Expanded Program on Immunization in the country, emphasized the significant contribution of this vaccine in the fight against malaria, stating, “With its ability to reduce at least one-third of deaths, we can hope to achieve a new level of results.”
This initial vaccine shipment is expected to cover 42 health districts, which is insufficient for a country with 203 districts. It serves as a complement to traditional malaria prevention methods, as highlighted by the Minister of Health, Malachie Manaouda. “The vaccine won’t eliminate mosquitoes. We must take the precautions we took before. It’s an additional measure to help us avoid high mortality rates.”
According to the WHO, malaria causes nearly 11,000 deaths annually in Cameroon. Approximately 400,000 children aged 6 to 24 months are expected to receive the initial doses of this vaccine as part of a four-dose regimen.