What will the first rollout of a malaria vaccine mean for Nigeria?
The R21 vaccine rollout began in two states with high malaria rates. Health officials hope it will protect vulnerable children and drastically reduce deaths
Long Synopsis
Malaria, a preventable mosquito-borne disease, kills 600,000 people annually in Africa, most of them are children under five. Nigeria accounts for 30% of these deaths globally.
This week, the country started administering the R21 malaria vaccine to children aged 5 to 11 months, beginning in Bayelsa and Kebbi states, which have high infection rates. Developed by Oxford University and manufactured in India, the vaccine has 75% efficacy. With 1 million doses donated by Gavi, the campaign is expected to expand nationwide by 2025.
In today’s episode Alan Kasujja speaks to the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ’s Health reporter Makuochi Okafor who was in Bayelsa this week and Professor Halidou Tinto, who helped to test the vaccine in Burkina Faso.
Presenter: Alan Kasujja. Guests: Makouchi Okafor, Halidou Tinto
Podcast
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