The Federal Government has announced the integration of the malaria vaccine into Nigeria’s national routine immunisation schedule, marking a significant step toward eliminating the disease, which costs the nation over $1.1 billion annually.
Speaking at the inaugural meeting of the Advisory on Malaria Elimination in Nigeria (AMEN) held in Abuja, the Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, described malaria as both a health and economic crisis requiring urgent action.
“Malaria continues to exert an unacceptable toll on Nigeria,” Prof. Pate stated. “With 27% of global malaria cases and 31% of global malaria deaths, our country bears the heaviest burden of this disease.
In 2022, over 180,000 Nigerian children under the age of five lost their lives to malaria—a tragedy we have the tools to prevent.”
Highlighting the economic impact, he added, “This is not just a health crisis; it is an economic and developmental emergency. Malaria reduces productivity, increases out-of-pocket health expenditures, and compounds the challenges of poverty.
The annual loss to Nigeria’s GDP from malaria exceeds $1.1 billion, underscoring the economic imperative of elimination.”
The malaria vaccine rollout aligns with the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII) and the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration.
The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) announced that the rollout would begin in Kebbi and Bayelsa states before expanding nationwide.
According to the NPHCDA, the R21/Matrix-M vaccine will initially target children aged five to 15 months, with plans to reach additional states by 2025 as more doses become available.
Earlier in October, Nigeria received one million doses of the R21/Matrix-M vaccine, developed by Oxford University scientists and produced by the Serum Institute of India and Novavax.
The vaccine was donated by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, with support from UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO).
The Executive Director of NPHCDA, Dr. Muyi Aina, affirmed that the vaccine would be progressively integrated into routine immunisation schedules to offer protection to millions of children.
“The second phase will target 19 states and the FCT, while the third phase will cover the remaining 15 states by 2025,” he said.
Malaria remains one of the deadliest diseases in Nigeria, accounting for 27% of the global malaria burden and 31% of related deaths, with children under five being the most affected.
The government’s commitment to malaria elimination represents a pivotal moment in improving public health and economic stability in the country.
