Liberia has obtained 112,000 doses of the world’s first malaria vaccine, known as RTS,S. This announcement follows Cameroon’s recent initiation of the RTS,S vaccine, making it the first country to commence a routine vaccine programme against malaria.
Liberia is set to launch its mass vaccination campaign in April, targeting children under the age of five who have a significant risk of contracting malaria, affecting about 10% of this demographic, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The RTS,S vaccine, developed by British drugmaker GSK and approved by WHO, is specifically designed for infants. Adolpus Clarke, director of Liberia’s Expanded Programme on Immunisation, hailed the new vaccine as a “game changer” in the nation’s battle against malaria.
Trial results have demonstrated the safety and effectiveness of RTS,S in combating malaria. Gavi, the global vaccine alliance, reports that 20 other countries are expected to introduce the programme this year.