Cameroon has initiated the world’s first routine malaria vaccine program, aiming to save thousands of children’s lives across Africa.

The symbolic first dose was administered to an eight-month-old baby named Daniella at a health facility near Yaoundé.

According to the World Health Organization, 600,000 people die from malaria in Africa annually, with children under five constituting at least 80% of these deaths.

The RTS,S vaccine, administered free of charge to infants up to six months old, has already shown success in pilot campaigns in Kenya, Ghana, and Malawi, resulting in a 13% decrease in malaria deaths among eligible children.

Health officials plan to administer four doses of the vaccine simultaneously with routine childhood vaccines, simplifying the process for parents.

The vaccine, with an efficacy rate of at least 36%, could save over one in three lives, according to US researchers.

While the vaccine’s efficacy rate is relatively low, health experts emphasize its importance as an additional tool in the fight against malaria, complementing mosquito nets and malaria tablets. Using all three methods together could provide children with 90% protection from malaria.

Cameroonian doctor Shalom Ndoula, a key figure in the vaccine rollout, expressed optimism about reducing malaria cases and deaths, calling it a historic moment.

He said, “We have a capacity to considerably reduce the number of cases and deaths from malaria and accelerate the elimination of the disease.”

The development of the RTS,S vaccine involved 30 years of research by British drug-maker GSK and gained approval from the WHO.

Despite concerns about vaccine hesitancy due to fears and doubts among some Cameroonians, officials emphasize the vaccine’s safety, effectiveness, and free accessibility.

The rollout is part of a global effort, with 20 other countries, including Burkina Faso, Liberia, Niger, and Sierra Leone, planning to implement the program this year.

However, the current supply falls short of demand, with approximately 18 million doses available before 2025.

The anticipated rollout of a second vaccine, R21, developed by Oxford University and manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, is expected to significantly increase available doses.