Nigeria is set to receive its first shipment of the R21 malaria vaccine, marking a major step in the country’s efforts to combat malaria. The vaccine, developed by the University of Oxford and produced by the Serum Institute of India, has been recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for use in children in malaria-endemic regions like Nigeria. This rollout is part of a larger initiative to reduce childhood mortality from malaria, which remains a leading cause of death in Africa, especially among children under five.
The R21 vaccine joins the RTS,S vaccine, another WHO-recommended malaria vaccine, in the fight against this deadly disease. These vaccines are part of comprehensive national malaria control programs supported by international organizations like Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and UNICEF. The vaccines aim to reduce the high malaria burden in countries like Nigeria, which is among the highest globally for malaria-related deaths.
