The Ministry of Health is set to roll out the malaria vaccination campaign across 105 districts starting in April 2025, marking a major milestone in the country’s fight against the deadly disease.
It should be remembered that on March 7, Health Minister Dr. Ruth Aceng officially flagged off the distribution of 2.2 million vaccine doses. The initiative is being implemented in partnership with GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, with co-funding from the government and procurement handled by UNICEF.
The malaria vaccine will now be integrated into Uganda’s routine immunization program, targeting children under two years. It will be administered in four doses at 6, 7, 8, and 18 months to ensure effective protection.
Health officials have hailed the move as a game-changer in reducing malaria-related illnesses and deaths among young children, a group most vulnerable to the disease.
Speaking at the flag-off event, Dr Aceng emphasised the government’s commitment to strengthening disease prevention efforts and building resilient health systems. “The introduction of the malaria vaccine in Uganda is a historic step forward in our fight against this deadly disease. With the support of Gavi, UNICEF and other partners, we are ensuring that every eligible child has access to this life-saving intervention,” the Minister said.
Between 2023 and 2025, a total of 18 million doses of the RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine have been allocated to 12 African countries. This initiative aims to protect vulnerable populations in areas with the highest malaria transmission rates.
The current supply of malaria vaccines falls short of the demand. For example, vaccinating the targeted cohort would require approximately 560 million doses, whereas only 18 million doses have been allocated for 2023–2025.
As of December 2024, 17 African countries have incorporated malaria vaccines into their routine childhood immunization programs. Notably, countries such as Niger, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Nigeria, which experience high malaria endemicity, are among those implementing these programs.
By the end of 2024, over 2 million children in Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi had received the malaria vaccine through the Malaria Vaccine Implementation Programme (MVIP), resulting in a substantial reduction in severe malaria cases and child mortality in these regions.