Malaria Vaccines Gain Momentum Across Africa, Boosting Elimination Efforts

In the ongoing battle against malaria, significant advancements and expansions in the use of malaria vaccines have been noted, particularly over the recent months.

As of early April 2025, the rollout of the RTS,S and R21 malaria vaccines is progressing steadily. The World Health Organization (WHO) prequalified the RTS,S vaccine in July 2022, and the R21 vaccine in December 2023, ensuring their safety and quality. Currently, 19 countries in Africa, including Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, and others, are incorporating these vaccines into their childhood immunization programs and national malaria control plans[1].

The demand for these vaccines is unprecedented, with at least 30 African countries planning to introduce them into their immunization programs. The availability of two effective vaccines has ensured sufficient supply to meet this high demand, benefiting children in areas where malaria poses a major public health risk[1].

The RTS,S/AS01 and R21/Matrix-M vaccines have demonstrated their efficacy in reducing malaria cases. The RTS,S vaccine has shown a modest efficacy of approximately 33–36% in reducing clinical malaria cases over four years, although its protection wanes without booster doses. It has a favorable safety profile, with mild injection site reactions and transient fever being the most common adverse events[2].

Despite the progress, challenges remain. The efficacy of these vaccines can vary depending on the genetics of the local *P. falciparum* population, and there is ongoing concern about the emergence of drug-resistant strains and new variants of mosquitoes. However, the introduction and scaling up of these vaccines are seen as crucial in enhancing global malaria elimination efforts[3].

In a broader context, malaria-related mortality in Africa has decreased significantly, from 808,000 in 2000 to 580,000 in 2022, thanks to innovative public health measures. Nine African countries have already eradicated malaria, but the fight is far from over due to threats from climate change and emerging resistant strains[3].

The WHO and other health organizations continue to emphasize the importance of using these vaccines in conjunction with other control interventions, such as insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) and effective case management, to achieve optimal results in reducing malaria transmission[4].

As more countries prepare to introduce and scale up the use of these vaccines in 2025, the global health community remains hopeful that these efforts will significantly contribute to the ultimate goal of malaria elimination.

This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
In the ongoing battle against malaria. Significant advancements and expansions
in the use of malaria vaccines have been noted, particularly
over the recent months. As of early April twenty twenty five,
the rollout of the RTS S and R twenty one
malaria vaccines is progressing steadily. The World Health Organization pre
qualified the RTS vaccine in July twenty twenty two and

(00:23):
the R twenty one vaccine in December twenty twenty three,
ensuring their safety and quality. Currently, nineteen countries in Africa,
including Benin, Burkina, Fasso, Burundi, Cameroon and others, are incorporating
these vaccines into their childhood immunization programs and national malaria
control plans. The demand for these vaccines is unprecedented, with

(00:46):
at least thirty African countries planning to introduce them into
their immunization programs. The availability of two effective vaccines has
ensured sufficient supply to meet this high demand, benefiting children
in areas where malatia poses a major public health risk.
The RTS saszoo one and R twenty one Matrix M

(01:06):
vaccines have demonstrated their efficacy in reducing malaria cases. The
RTSs vaccine has shown a modest efficacy of approximately thirty
three to thirty six percent in reducing clinical malaria cases
over four years. Although its protection wanes without booster doses,
it has a favorable safety profile, with mild injection site
reactions and transient fever being the most common adverse events. Too.

(01:31):
Despite the progress, challenges remain. The efficacy of these vaccines
can vary depending on the genetics of the local P.
Falciparum population, and there is ongoing concern about the emergence
of drug resistant strains and new variants of mosquitoes. However,
the introduction and scaling up of these vaccines are seen
as crucial in enhancing global malaria elimination efforts. In a

(01:55):
broader context, malaria related mortality in Africa has decreased significantly
from eight hundred, eight thousand and two thousand to five
hundred eighty thousand in twenty twenty two thanks to innovative
public health measures. Nine African countries have already eradicated malaria,
but the fight is far from over due to threats

(02:15):
from climate change and emerging resistant strains. The WHO and
other health organizations continue to emphasize the importance of using
these vaccines in conjunction with other control interventions such as
insecticide treated nets ITNs, and effective case management to achieve
optimal results in reducing malaria transmission. For As more countries

(02:38):
prepare to introduce and scale up the use of these
vaccines in twenty twenty five, the global health community remains
hopeful that these efforts will significantly contribute to the ultimate
goal of malaria elimination.