ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast: Ivory Coast has received its first batch of malaria vaccines, aimed at combating a disease that claims four lives daily in the country, predominantly among young children.
The government announced the arrival of 656,600 doses of the R21/Matrix-M vaccine, intended to initially immunize 250,000 children aged 0-23 months across 16 regions.
Despite a decline in malaria deaths from 3,222 in 2017 to 1,316 in 2020, the disease remains the primary reason for medical consultations, according to the Ministry of Health. The vaccine, endorsed by several African countries, complements ongoing efforts such as mosquito net distribution and insecticide spraying in endemic areas.
Malaria, causing fever and potentially fatal complications if untreated, resulted in over 600,000 deaths globally in 2022, with 95% occurring in Africa and 80% affecting children under 5 years old. Developed by the Serum Institute of India, this vaccine represents a critical step endorsed by the World Health Organization to reduce malaria’s impact in affected regions.
