Twelve African countries are set to receive 18 million doses of the RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine from 2023 to 2025, according to a joint press statement by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the World Health Organisation (WHO), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
The vaccine, recommended by the WHO, aims to prevent malaria in children in areas with moderate to high malaria transmission.
The first doses are expected to arrive in countries in late 2023, with rollout beginning in early 2024.
The allocation of doses is based on the framework for limited vaccine supply, prioritizing areas with the highest need.
Malaria remains a major health concern in Africa, causing nearly half a million deaths among children under five each year.
