The Government of Liberia (GOL), in collaboration with its partners, officially unveiled an anti-malaria vaccine for children aged 5 to 18 months in Cestos City, Rivercess County, on Thursday, April 25, 2024.
In a statement released by the Ministry of Health, Minister of Health Dr. Louise Kpoto is slated to administer the inaugural dose from the available 88,780 vials of the malaria vaccine, marking a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to combat malaria in alignment with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) initiative.
The remaining doses are expected to arrive in July 2024, bolstering Liberia’s arsenal against the burden of malaria.
The distribution of the malaria vaccine is a pivotal aspect of the WHO’s Malaria Vaccine Implementation Program, aimed at curbing malaria-related illnesses and fatalities across the continent. Liberia stands among 12 African nations benefitting from this initiative, with a specific focus on areas with high malaria prevalence, particularly among children.
The Ministry of Health reaffirms its commitment to prioritizing the rollout of the vaccine in six southeastern counties, which have witnessed a surge in malaria cases in recent months. Targeting children aged 0 to 23 months in 39 districts within these regions, the campaign aims to provide widespread coverage.
The anti-malaria vaccine will be accessible at all health facilities across the six southeastern counties: Rivercess, Sinoe, Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, River Gee, and Maryland.
It’s noteworthy that the government, supported by partners including GAVI, WHO, and UNICEF, received the RTS malaria vaccine in January 2024, marking a significant stride in Liberia’s public health endeavors against malaria.
