The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
Related Articles
By: BBC News
Cameroon is launching the world’s inaugural routine vaccine initiative against malaria, contributing to the global endeavor expected to preserve numerous children’s lives throughout Africa.
The RTS,S vaccine, endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and developed by the British pharmaceutical company GSK, is specifically targeting infants in Cameroon’s 42 most severely affected regions.
As the initial country to implement doses through a routine immunization program, Cameroon follows successful pilot campaigns in Kenya, Ghana, and Malawi. This program, set to commence on Monday, is hailed by health authorities as a significant achievement in the long-standing battle against malaria in Africa.
Twenty additional countries plan to initiate the program this year, as reported by the global vaccine alliance Gavi. Despite being only about 30% effective and offering protection that diminishes after several months, the four-dose vaccine from GSK is a notable step forward.
However, GSK’s production capacity is currently limited to about 15 million doses annually.
