Cameroon celebrates milestones and navigates obstacles in landmark malaria vaccine rollout
One year after the introduction of the world’s first malaria vaccine into its vaccination program, Cameroon reports progress despite facing various challenges.
YAOUNDE, Cameroon—Honorine Asogue, 34, was pleasantly surprised when she visited the Soa District Hospital near Cameroon’s political capital, Yaounde, on Jan. 13.
Her main reason for the early morning visit was to get a Vitamin A vaccine for her 6-month-old daughter, Miracle Chefor. However, she was informed that Miracle was now eligible for the world’s first malaria vaccine.
“My daughter is very fortunate, and I feel that she is now protected against malaria,” expressed Asogue, who had a close call with losing Miracle during pregnancy due to the life-threatening parasitic disease.
“I live in an area prone to malaria. I recently suffered from the disease myself. I am thrilled for my daughter and look forward to completing her remaining three vaccine schedules,” added Asogue in an interview with The Epoch Times.
Asogue left, and Murielle Tsague, 25, promptly brought in her 6-month-old son, Meli Derek, for vaccination as well.
She emphasized the importance of the vaccine for Derek, who just turned 6 months and has never experienced malaria. “The vaccine is a significant step in the fight against malaria,” Tsague expressed.
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Cameroon’s tropical climate provides an ideal habitat for mosquitoes, making it one of the 11 countries most affected by malaria.
WHO estimates that the Central African nation records around 6 million cases annually.
The National Malaria Control Program in Cameroon reports a malaria hospital incidence of 113 cases per 1,000 inhabitants, with approximately 30 percent of all outpatient visits related to malaria.
The RTS,S malaria vaccine, known as Mosquirix, targets the Plasmodium falciparum parasite that causes malaria, transmitted by anopheles mosquitoes.
The injectable vaccine is given free to Cameroonian children aged 6 months to 2 years.
With 553,100 doses of the malaria vaccine received so far, Cameroon aims to vaccinate half a million children by 2025.
This marked the first time doses of the vaccine were shipped to an African country outside the three pilot nations—Kenya, Ghana, and Malawi—that were part of the Malaria Vaccine Implementation…
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