Current:Home > MyCameroon starts world’s first malaria vaccine program for children -EquityExchange
Cameroon starts world’s first malaria vaccine program for children
View
Date:2025-04-12 14:54:23
Cameroon will be the first country to routinely give children a new malaria vaccine as the shots are rolled out in Africa.
The campaign due to start Monday was described by officials as a milestone in the decades-long effort to curb the mosquito-spread disease on the continent, which accounts for 95% of the world’s malaria deaths.
“The vaccination will save lives. It will provide major relief to families and the country’s health system,” said Aurelia Nguyen, chief program officer at the Gavi vaccines alliance, which is helping Cameroon secure the shots.
The Central Africa nation hopes to vaccinate about 250,000 children this year and next year. Gavi said it is working with 20 other African countries to help them get the vaccine and that those countries will hopefully immunize more than 6 million children through 2025.
In Africa, there are about 250 million cases of the parasitic disease each year, including 600,000 deaths, mostly in young children.
Cameroon will use the first of two recently approved malaria vaccines, known as Mosquirix. The World Health Organization endorsed the vaccine two years ago, acknowledging that that even though it is imperfect, its use would still dramatically reduce severe infections and hospitalizations.
The GlaxoSmithKline-produced shot is only about 30% effective, requires four doses and protection begins to fade after several months. The vaccine was tested in Africa and used in pilot programs in three countries.
GSK has said it can only produce about 15 million doses of Mosquirix a year and some experts believe a second malaria vaccine developed by Oxford University and approved by WHO in October might be a more practical solution. That vaccine is cheaper, requires three doses and India’s Serum Institute said they could make up to 200 million doses a year.
Gavi’s Nguyen said they hoped there might be enough of the Oxford vaccines available to begin immunizing people later this year.
Neither of the malaria vaccines stop transmission, so other tools like bed nets and insecticidal spraying will still be critical. The malaria parasite mostly spreads to people via infected mosquitoes and can cause symptoms including fever, headaches and chills.
___
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
veryGood! (3873)
Related
- A White House order claims to end 'censorship.' What does that mean?
- NBA getting what it wants from In-Season Tournament, including LeBron James in the final
- Wisconsin university system reaches deal with Republicans that would scale back diversity positions
- As Pakistan cracks down on illegal migrants, nearly half a million Afghans have left, minister says
- McConnell absent from Senate on Thursday as he recovers from fall in Capitol
- Here's the average pay raise employees can expect in 2024
- Southern California man sentenced to life in prison for sex trafficking minors: 'Inexcusable' and 'horrific' acts
- Polish truck drivers are blocking the border with Ukraine. It’s hurting on the battlefield
- 'Squid Game' without subtitles? Duolingo, Netflix encourage fans to learn Korean
- Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes' Exes Andrew Shue and Marilee Fiebig Spotted Together Amid Budding Romance
Ranking
- Meta releases AI model to enhance Metaverse experience
- Mick Jagger's Girlfriend Melanie Hamrick Shares Rare Photos of Rocker With His 7-Year-Old Deveraux
- Inmate convicted of fatally stabbing another inmate at West Virginia penitentiary
- Flight attendants at Southwest Airlines reject a contract their union negotiated with the airline
- Trump invites nearly all federal workers to quit now, get paid through September
- As Pakistan cracks down on illegal migrants, nearly half a million Afghans have left, minister says
- 'Beyond rare' all-white alligator born in Florida. She may be 1 of 8 in the world.
- Appeals court upholds gag order on Trump in Washington case but narrows restrictions on his speech
Recommendation
Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing
Bills coach Sean McDermott apologizes for crediting 9/11 hijackers for their coordination while talking to team in 2019
French police address fear factor ahead of the Olympic Games after a deadly attack near Eiffel Tower
Missouri House Democrat is kicked off committees after posting photo with alleged Holocaust denier
Most popular books of the week: See what topped USA TODAY's bestselling books list
Inmate convicted of fatally stabbing another inmate at West Virginia penitentiary
Indonesia suspects human trafficking is behind the increasing number of Rohingya refugees
Derek Hough Shares Update on Wife Hayley Erbert’s Health After Skull Surgery