Nigeria reduces child malaria rates through slow vaccine rollout

Health workers in Bayelsa state, Nigeria, are administering a new malaria vaccine to infants to combat a disease that killed nearly 200,000 Nigerians in a single year.

The vaccination program provides a four-part immunization regimen over the first 15 months of a child's life. While the vaccine does not offer total protection, the NGO PATH reports that the state has already seen an 18% drop in the rate of children under 5 who have malaria at any given time.

The rollout has moved slowly as officials work to reach remote areas and manage logistics. Currently, the vaccine is only being deployed in four out of 36 Nigerian states. To ensure children complete their full course of shots, some healthcare workers conduct home visits for parents who cannot afford to travel to clinics. This effort is particularly important because the World Health Organization states that children under 5 account for more than 75% of malaria deaths in Africa.

Local residents in villages like Oruma report that the vaccine helps families avoid the high costs of malaria medication. One mother noted that medicine costs 5,000 naira ($3.75), which is a significant expense for many. Despite the success in some areas, experts note that the vaccine must be paired with broader infrastructure like better drainage and sewage to be fully effective. The program continues as workers navigate difficult terrain, including areas accessible only by boat, to reach more children.