In September 2019, the Ministry of Health, through the National Vaccines and Immunisation Programme, took a bold step and launched the malaria vaccine in Homa Bay, one of the eight counties with the heaviest burden of malaria nationwide. Notably, the country joined Malawi and Ghana in launching the childhood malaria vaccination programme. According to the WHO, in 2018 this age group accounted for about 67 per cent of malaria deaths globally with the bulk of the malaria deaths being registered in sub-Saharan Africa. The malaria vaccine, known as RTS,S acts against Plasmodium falciparum, the deadliest malaria parasite globally and the most prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa. The RTS,S vaccine, when administered as required, will help reduce cases of malaria and severe malaria, including hospital admissions.

Source: The Star April 25, 2021 01:52 UTC