大象传媒

The approval of the RTS,S malaria vaccine was decribed as an 'historic moment' by the WHO. After the success of pilot immunisation programmes in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi, the World Health Organization says the vaccine should be rolled out across sub-Saharan Africa and in other regions with moderate to high malaria transmission.

Tabitha Wanja Mwangi from the Cambridge-Africa team at Cambridge University explains some of the challenges and benefits that the roll out will encounter. She says that although three shots plus boosters will need to be given, the fact that the vaccine will reduce the number of hospitalisations will bring much-needed relief to health facilities in the region, and will also help collate the details of those at risk, which will help future vaccination roll outs. In addition, the roll out will target areas of medium to high transmission rates, which will reduce the resources needed for distribution.

Photo: A child gets a malaria vaccination at a hospital in Kenya, October, 2021 Credit: Getty Images