The Federal Government has announced the inclusion of the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine in Nigeria’s national routine immunization schedule as part of intensified efforts to eliminate malaria.
This development comes amid revelations that the country loses over $1.1 billion annually to malaria-related economic setbacks.
Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare, made the announcement at the inaugural meeting of the Advisory on Malaria Elimination in Nigeria (AMEN) in Abuja.
He described malaria as a dual crisis—a health and economic emergency—that significantly hampers the nation’s development.
Nigeria’s Malaria Burden
“Malaria continues to exert an unacceptable toll on Nigeria. With 27% of global malaria cases and 31% of global malaria deaths, our country bears the heaviest burden of this disease,” Pate stated.
He highlighted the devastating human cost, noting that over 180,000 Nigerian children under five died from malaria in 2022.
The economic consequences are equally alarming, with malaria reducing workforce productivity and increasing healthcare costs.
Pate emphasized that eliminating malaria is essential for Nigeria’s economic stability and is central to the Renewed Hope Agenda and the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII).
The R21/Matrix-M vaccine, developed by Oxford University and manufactured by the Serum Institute of India and Novavax, is targeted at children aged five to 15 months.
One million doses, donated by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, with support from UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO), have been delivered.
The vaccine rollout will begin in Kebbi and Bayelsa states, with plans to expand to 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in 2025.
The remaining states will be covered in subsequent phases, according to the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).
Dr. Muyi Aina, Executive Director of NPHCDA, expressed optimism about the vaccine’s impact.
“The malaria vaccine is here and will now be part of the National Immunization Schedule, offering protection to millions of children and moving us closer to a malaria-free future,” he said.
The vaccine is expected to significantly reduce malaria deaths among children under five, the group most vulnerable to the disease.
The federal government’s decision to integrate the malaria vaccine into routine immunization underscores its commitment to eradicating a disease that continues to undermine health and economic development in Nigeria.
With the rollout underway, authorities are hopeful that this initiative will mark the beginning of the end for one of the nation’s most persistent health crises.