A historic turning point in the fight against malaria in Africa

Science · Published 12 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: For years, developing a safe malaria vaccine was a monumental challenge. Now, new evidence confirms that vaccines like RTS,S are saving lives, with one evaluation showing they could avert 1 in 8 child deaths in the first countries to implement them.

The rollout of malaria vaccines marks a significant shift in public health strategy across the continent. According to the World Health Organization, the RTS,S vaccine has successfully navigated regulatory hurdles and is being distributed in Malawi. A rigorous evaluation published in The Lancet, based on data from the Malaria Vaccine Implementation Programme (MVIP) between 2019 and 2023, found that the RTS,S vaccine helped avert an estimated 1 in 8 child deaths among eligible children in Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi. This evaluation utilized results from the Malaria Vaccine Implementation Programme to assess public health outcomes. Such findings underscore the urgent necessity of securing consistent financing to accelerate continental rollout.

While the RTS,S vaccine has shown efficacy of up to 72% when used seasonally, a newer vaccine, R21, has demonstrated up to 75% efficacy in trials. These vaccines are typically administered in a four-dose regimen starting in infancy. On March 7, 2025, Uganda initiated a huge effort to deliver 2.278 million R21/Matrix-M vaccine doses across 105 districts, aiming to protect 1.1 million children under two years old. This massive Ugandan campaign is supported by Gavi, the WHO, and UNICEF. These immunisation efforts are designed to complement existing malaria control methods.

Despite this progress, significant hurdles remain. The impact of the disease remains catastrophic; roughly 438,000 children in Africa perished from malaria during 2024. Experts emphasize that vaccines are most effective when used as part of an integrated approach alongside existing tools like insecticide-treated nets and indoor spraying. Furthermore, the success of these programs depends on overcoming funding uncertainties, maintaining cold-chain storage, and ensuring community engagement to boost vaccine uptake. Zambia is also preparing for a national rollout across all its provinces. Meanwhile, Burundi has officially included the RTS,S/AS01 vaccine in its routine schedule.

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