FG to begin malaria vaccination on Nov 25

FG to begin malaria vaccination on Nov 25

Barring any unexpected changes in plans, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, perhaps, through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) will commence malaria vaccination on Monday.

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, in October, donated 846,200 doses of R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine to the federal government for the pilot phase of the malaria vaccine administration.

The first phase of the vaccination will take place in Kebbi, and Bayelsa states, and would be administered in four doses on infants at five, six, seven, and 15 months of age, to be fully protected.

The second phase will be in 19 states and FCT, while the rest of the states in the federation will join in the third and last phases.

The NPHCDA said it has commenced the training of health workers that would be involved in the immunisation, adding that it also hosted stakeholders across the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) and non-EPI sectors ahead the introduction of the malaria vaccine in Nigeria

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The Director for Advocacy and Communication at the NPHCDA, Dr Aliyu Ladan, stated that the engagements mark a critical step in the fight against malaria, focusing on partnership, innovation, and inclusivity, to ensure successful rollout and equitable access for all.

Similarly, the Vaccine Network for Disease Control (VNDC) has congratulated the Federal Ministry of Health and NPHCDA on a job well done, and promised to play their part in ensuring that the roll out is a success.

Meanwhile, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Ali Pate, who took delivery of the vaccines in October, said the arrival of the vaccines marked the beginning of a new trajectory in the fight against malaria, commending the WHO, UNICEF and other development partners for the great role they have played over the years.

 

FG to begin malaria vaccination on Nov 25