Bangui – The Central African Republic (CAR) today introduced the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine into its routine Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), becoming the 4th country in the African Region after Cote d’Ivoire, South Sudan and Mozambique. R21 is the second malaria vaccine recommended by WHO after RTS,S for children.
The introduction of the R21 malaria vaccine as part of routine immunization marks a significant step forward in preventing the disease and protecting children. As of May 2024, the country has received 163,800 doses of R21 vaccine deployed in all 35 health districts with the aim of vaccinating approximately 199,407 children aged 6 to 16 months with one dose at 6, 7, 9 and 16 months.
Malaria is one of the world’s deadliest diseases, killing nearly half a million children under the age of 5 each year in Africa. The Central African Republic has one of the highest malaria incidence rates in the region. In 2022, approximately 1,733,000 malaria cases were reported, an average of approximately 4,747 cases per day. The disease also caused nearly 5,180 deaths during the year, or 14 deaths per day.
The opportunity offered by the introduction of the vaccine into the national immunization program is immense, as indicated by Ms. Carlyne Romulus, UNICEF Deputy Representative in CAR. "Malaria vaccines, introduced into routine immunization, will significantly reduce early child deaths and strengthen the fight against malaria. The community demand for these vaccines represents an opportunity to offer children other routine vaccines in order to increase immunization coverage and save even more lives," she said.
For his part, Dr. Fousséni Dao, WHO Office Manager in CAR, recalled that "this long-awaited R21 vaccine is a step forward for science, children's health and the fight against malaria. The use of this vaccine alongside other malaria prevention strategies such as the use of impregnated mosquito nets and environmental sanitation could save tens of thousands of young lives each year."
To prepare for the introduction of the R21 vaccine into routine EPI, WHO and UNICEF, with funding from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, are supporting the country in developing vaccine implementation plans and communication strategies, training health workers, community engagement, and maintaining the cold chain.
“In a world marked by the deliberate infodemic against vaccination, I wanted to personally announce the introduction of the new malaria vaccine in order to solemnly mark my commitment to disease prevention through vaccination,” said the President of the Central African Republic, Professor Faustin-Archange Touadera. “My vision for protection through vaccination is that in the Central African Republic, every individual wherever they are, regardless of their age, gender, social status, religion and community affiliation, fully benefits from the advantages of the vaccines selected under the Expanded Programme on Immunization,” he added.
In the Central African Republic, the results of recent surveys on vaccination coverage by the expanded programme on immunisation show that despite the efforts made by the government and its partners to make vaccines and immunisation services available to the majority of the population, only 16% of children are fully vaccinated and 34% have never been vaccinated. The distance that people have to travel to access vaccination services is the major obstacle to vaccination in the country.
For further information or to request interviews, please contact:
Rene Koundou IFONO
Communications Officer
WHO - Central African Republic
Email: ifonor@who.int