According to the Federal Government, the RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine will be available in the country by April 2024.
Dr. Osagie Ehanire, Minister of Health, stated during a news conference on World Malaria Day on Tuesday that Nigeria has filed for the RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine in the third application window, which ends on April 18, 2023.
Every year on April 25, World Malaria Day is observed to highlight the importance of ongoing investment and political commitment to malaria prevention and control.
This follows an exclusive report by The ANAEDOONLINE that Nigeria failed to register for the vaccine before the second application window expired on January 17, 2023.
The World Health Organisation, in 2021, recommended the widespread use of the RTS,S/AS01 (RTS,S) malaria vaccine among children in sub-Saharan Africa and other regions with moderate to high Plasmodium falciparum malaria transmission.
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Meanwhile, a third window of applications for support from Gavi opened until April 18.
Dr Osagie, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mamman Mamuda, said “Let me also inform you that the National Programme is working closely with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and other stakeholders in accessing and deploying the malaria vaccine (RTS,S) in a phased fashion subject to availability of needed quantity.
“The country has also successfully submitted an application to Gavi for the RTS,S vaccine allocation. This is expected to be in-country by April 2024.”
The ANAEDOONLINE reports that despite efforts by the government and its partners to combat the effects of malaria, Nigeria accounts for 27 per cent of global malaria cases and 32 per cent of global malaria deaths.
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