Nigeria receives 846,000 doses of R21 malaria vaccine

Nigeria has officially received its first batch of 846,000 doses of the R21 malaria vaccine, courtesy of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

This milestone marks a significant leap forward in the country’s quest to eliminate malaria.

The official launch, held on Thursday, brought together top officials from the Ministry of Health, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and key development partners.

Minister of Health Ali Pate hailed the vaccine’s arrival as a “significant milestone” in Nigeria’s malaria elimination efforts.

“Every child that has the full course of the vaccine has an opportunity to live a life of health,” he emphasized.

Pate reassured the public about the vaccine’s safety and efficiency, urging well-meaning Nigerians to take advantage of this valuable resource.

The vaccine will initially be distributed to states with the highest malaria burden, including Kebbi and Bayelsa. The move aims to provide an additional layer of protection against the disease.

Pate clarified that the vaccine is not a replacement for existing treatments but rather a complementary tool in the fight against malaria.

He said: “The vaccines are delivered to populations for free. I want to urge all well-meaning Nigerians to take advantage of the limited availability and the fact that it’s a valuable commodity and bring their wards where they have the opportunity, to make sure they are protected with these vaccines.

“And to discount misinformation for uninformed people who sometimes have their own agendas or may not understand what they’re talking about.”

The R21 malaria vaccine, second to be recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for children living in endemic areas, is produced by the Serum Institute of India, and will be administered in two doses per vial.