The government of Mali has introduced a new malaria vaccination strategy aimed at protecting children between 5 and 36 months old. This marks a significant milestone in the global fight against a disease that continues to claim countless lives.
With this initiative, Mali has become the 20th African country to integrate malaria vaccines into routine immunization programs, leveraging support from Gavi.
While specifically designed for Mali, this program holds broader implications, contributing significantly to Africa’s collective efforts to eradicate malaria.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the vaccine being utilized in this program is R21/Matrix-M. The first phase of vaccinations has commenced in 19 selected districts across five provinces: Kayes, Koulikoro, Mopti, Ségou, and Sikasso.
Mali received 927,800 doses of the malaria vaccine as part of its implementation of nationwide vaccination efforts.
Statistics underscore the urgent need for such measures. The 2024 World Malaria Report revealed that in 2023, Mali accounted for 2.4% of the global malaria deaths (14,328) and 3.1% of global malaria cases (8.15 million infections).
Mali is listed among 11 countries with the highest malaria prevalence worldwide, underscoring the importance of impactful strategies like this new vaccination program.
The Mali initiative follows a large-scale implementation of a similar program in Uganda, which achieved remarkable rates of coverage across families and districts.
Malaria vaccines are gaining widespread acceptance across Africa. Since 2023, nearly 24 million malaria vaccine doses have been distributed across the continent, with several countries expanding their immunization programs to tackle the disease more effectively.
Mali has officially launched its first-ever malaria vaccination program.