South Sudan on Tuesday rolled out a malaria vaccination drive targeting about 265,000 children.
Malaria is the leading cause of the deaths of children in the country.
The initiative is led by the Ministry of Health in partnership with UNICEF, WHO and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
The Malaria Vaccine introduction will cover 28 counties across six states.
Speaking during the launch, Hussein Abdelbagi Akol, the Vice-President for Service Cluster said the vaccine would target mainly children from 18 months to 5 years of age.
“The official launch of malaria vaccination nationwide is a crucial and inspiring move toward achieving malaria free South Sudan. The initial target for the malaria vaccination campaign are children below the age of 5 months to 18. This decision is based on the high prevalence of malaria, morbidity, and mortality among this age group,” said Akol.
Health Minister Yolanda Awel Deng said malaria was killing 18 people daily in the country.
“Despite our ongoing efforts, malaria continues to pose a severe threat to our nation. Each year, we face 2.8 million cases and 6,680 deaths, translating to 7,630 cases and 18 deaths daily. We are losing 18 individuals daily. The 18 individuals dying are the vulnerable groups, the mothers, the children and the elderly,” Deng said.
“We are trying to tackle one puzzle and that is introducing the vaccination for children who are very vulnerable, 5 months to 18 months. These figures underscore the profound impact of Malaria on our communities, particularly among pregnant women and children under five. The malaria vaccine introduction will begin in 28 counties across 6 states in South Sudan,” she explained.
UNICEF South Sudan Representative Hamida Lasseko, said this momentous step placed South Sudan among the global pioneers in combating malaria.
“The introduction of the malaria vaccine after nearly six decades of research marks a pivotal breakthrough in our collective fight against the disease, malaria control and child health. This malaria vaccine, which is new, when used in conjunction with other preventive measures such as the long-lasting insecticide-treated nets, has the potential to save countless children’s lives every year, not only in South Sudan but in Africa in general,” said Lasseko.
The highly effective vaccine, developed by the University of Oxford and the Serum Institute of India, leveraging Novavax’s adjuvant, is critical to reducing over half a million malaria-related deaths annually.
Malaria continues to be a leading cause of illness and death in South Sudan, particularly among children. In 2022, the country reported an estimated 2.8 million cases and 6,680 deaths.
With approximately 7,630 new cases and 18 fatalities daily, South Sudan has one of the highest malaria incidence rates in the region.