By Joyce Ojanji
Mali’s Ministry of Health, with support from partners, has launched a first-of-its-kind malaria vaccine delivery approach, aimed at reaching children aged 5 to 36 months.
The approach entails providing the first three doses monthly throughout the year based on age, followed by the fourth and fifth doses given seasonally in May or June of the following year, before the high malaria transmission season starts.
Launched on 25th April, World Malaria Day 2025, the country becomes the 20th in Africa to introduce the malaria vaccine into its routine immunization programme with support from Gavi.
The implementation is vital not only for Mali but also for the continent’s overall efforts to eradicate malaria.
Initial distribution of the R21/Matrix-M vaccine, which will be utilized in Mali’s rollout, is taking place in 19 priority districts spread across five regions: Kayes, Koulikoro, Mopti, Ségou, and Sikasso, as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Mali has received 927,800 vaccine doses in preparation for the launch, laying the groundwork for a comprehensive and effective vaccination campaign.
Concerning data highlights how urgent Mali’s immunization efforts are, the WHO World Malaria Report for 2024 states that in 2023, Mali was responsible for 2.4% of all malaria fatalities (14,328) and 3.1% of all malaria cases (8.15 million) worldwide.
It is one of the 11 nations with the highest rates of malaria in the world. These numbers demonstrate the urgent need for successful interventions, such as the recently implemented vaccination program.
Mali’s debut comes after Uganda’s recent large-scale deployment, which was the most widespread to date in terms of district and population coverage.
The malaria vaccine is increasingly gaining popularity across Africa. Since 2023, approximately 24 million malaria vaccine doses have been supplied across the continent, as governments continue to expand their vaccination programs.
Gavi is a key player in this historic initiative, overseeing the worldwide malaria immunization campaign. The organization collaborates closely with governments and partners to guarantee the success of these efforts. Its support allows the acquisition, transportation, and deployment of malaria vaccine doses, working closely with partners such as the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and WHO.
