Nigeria has initiated a nationwide malaria vaccination program to combat the country’s high burden of the disease, which claimed approximately 200,000 lives last year.
The program prioritizes young children, with the first dose administered at five months of age. The southern state of Bayelsa, one of Nigeria’s malaria hotspots, is among the initial regions to benefit from the rollout.
Rebecca Godspower, a mother who brought her six-month-old baby for the vaccine after twice treating him for malaria, expressed relief. “Now that there’s a vaccine for malaria, at least I’m happy. The stress won’t be there again,” she said.
Another mother, Esther Michael, shared similar sentiments: “I’m happy to bring my child to the health centre for the vaccine because we hear that malaria is killing other children.”
Children under five, pregnant women, travelers, and people with compromised immunity, such as those living with HIV or AIDS, face the highest risk of severe malaria infections.
Bayelsa State Commissioner for Health, Professor Seiyefa Brisibe, highlighted the urgent need for intervention. “Malaria accounts for about 30% of deaths in children under five and contributes to absenteeism among working adults,” he explained.
However, vaccine hesitancy fueled by misinformation remains a challenge. “Some religious sects believe vaccines are unnecessary or harmful, which influences societal attitudes,” Brisibe added.
Despite these challenges, health officials remain optimistic about reducing malaria’s devastating toll across the country.