By Mohamed Sahr
Sierra Leone is set to rollout the newly approved malaria vaccine as part of commemoration of this year’s World Malaria Day.
The Ministry of Health (MoH) announced the plan on Tuesday ahead of commemoration of the day on Thursday, April 25.
Dr. Desmond Maada Kangbai, Program Manager of the Expanded Programme on Immunization, disclosed at a press conference that a total of 550, 000 doses of the vaccine will be administered on eligible children across the nation, with the exception of the Western Area Urban.
President Julius Maada Bio is expected to officially launch the process at a ceremony planned at State House.
Sierra Leone is among 12 countries earmarked as beneficiaries of the world’s first approved vaccine for the parasitic disease that accounts for many deaths among children and vulnerable women in particular.
Scientifically known as RTS,S, the vaccine developed by UK pharmaceutical firm, GSK is the world’s first malaria vaccine and the first to be approved by the World Health Organization (WHO), in July 2022.
Health Minister Dr Austin Demby welcomes aircraft caryring the vaccines on arrival in December, 2023. Photo credit, WHO Sierra Leone on X.
The Health ministry said the vaccine will be distributed based on data from the recent population and housing census, which defined the number of eligible children to receive it, in line with the priorities of the global vaccine alliance, GAVI.
Dr. Kangbai said the vaccine had gone through series of examinations in-country to authentic its validity and safety.
“We have received 550, 000 doses of malaria vaccine and we have distributed across all Public Health Units within the 15 districts, with the exception of Western Area Urban,” Dr. Kangbai said at the presser convened at the Medical Store at New England Ville in Freetown.
He explained that the vaccine will be administered in a total of four doses, starting with children under six months for the first dose, then at seven, eight and 18 months for second, third and fourth doses.
The vaccine will be administered free of cost, he said.
WHO figures show that Malaria burden accounts for over 200 million cases globally, with over 600, 000 deaths, annually. Much of the cases and deaths are recorded in the developing world, especially Africa which has the highest burden of the disease.
In Sierra Leone, over two million people visit hospital every year, according to WHO and government data.
Dr. Abdul Mac Falama, Program Manager, National Malaria Control Programme, said in 2023 Sierra Leone recorded 2,148, 650 confirmed cases, and approximately 1,502 children under five dying from the disease. Some 26,890 children were hospitalized due to malaria, he added.
According to Dr Falama, malaria remains the leading cause of death and illness among children, and it is responsible for an estimated 20% of child mortality in the country.
“Children under five and pregnant women are vulnerable of malaria transmission. Therefore, the entire population of Sierra Leone is at risk of malaria,” Dr. Falama said.
Dr. Louisa Ganda, Malaria Technical Adviser of WHO, said that the malaria vaccine serves as an added intervention to the perennial malaria problem in the country, urging parents to endeavor to take their children for vaccination.
Dorcas Amalo, Project Director, Global Fund Project of Catholic Relief Services, spoke about the societal impact of malaria to women, girls and how it has deranged the economy. She called for collaborative efforts to accelerate the fight against the disease.
She said malaria is a disease that does not only endanger health but also perpetrates a cycle of inequity, and disadvantages communities and social groups.
