Maputo, 5 August 2024 ‒ Mozambique has today introduced the lifesaving malaria vaccine into routine immunization, a critical step forward to revitalize the fight against malaria and improve children’s survival. With the introduction, Mozambique marks an important step towards reducing vulnerability of children and consequently reducing thousands of malaria cases and saving thousands of children’s lives.
Through Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and co-financing from the Government of Mozambique, the country has over 800,000 doses of the malaria vaccine for the Expanded Programme on Immunization, with the aim of immunizing around 300,000 children in the first phase, which begins on 5 August 2024. The vaccine will be distributed in 22 districts in the province of Zambézia and will be administered in a four-dose schedule; the first dose will cover children aged 6 to 11 months.
The R21 malaria vaccine is safe, effective and recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). This vaccine is an advancement for child health, disease control and reduction of child mortality in Mozambique, where malaria is an endemic disease, with prevalence in children under 5 years of age at 32% (IDS 2022‒2023).
Malaria continues to be a huge health challenge in the African region, which is home to 11 countries that bear approximately 70% of the global malaria burden. The region was responsible for 94% of global malaria cases and 95% of all malaria deaths in 2022, according to the 2023 World malaria report.
The introduction of the malaria vaccine in Mozambique brings to 11 the number of countries on the African continent that offer malaria vaccines: 8 rolling out RTS,S and 3 using R21. The vaccine is being introduced through the existing routine immunization system in Mozambique and will be a core part of a mix of malaria prevention and control interventions.
These efforts must be sustained to increase the coverage and use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITN), where only 57% of households in Mozambique have at least one ITN.
Alongside vaccine doses from Gavi, UNICEF, WHO and cooperation partners are also supporting the Ministry of Health in the preparation, acceptance and introduction of the malaria vaccine. This support ranges from developing vaccine implementation plans, communication strategies, conducting health worker trainings and community engagement, and ensuring sufficient cold chain capacity.
The joint efforts of the Ministry of Health and the partners demonstrate the shared commitment to integrating these life-saving vaccines into the national immunization programme. This milestone signifies progress in the battle against malaria, underscoring the collective dedication to safeguarding the health and well-being of children of Mozambique.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Collins Weru Mwai
+25 078 783 66 38
cmwai@gavi.org
Meg Sharafudeen
+41 79 711 55 54
msharafudeen@gavi.org
Cirũ Kariũki
+41 79 913 94 41
ckariuki@gavi.org
Laura Shevlin
+ 41 79 529 92 87
lshevlin@gavi.org
Matthew Grek
+44 77 38 46 64 53
mgrek@gavi.org
Eunice Kilonzo-Muraya
+41 76 424 85 03
ekilonzo@gavi.org