Ivory Coast Ministry of Health regional reports

Ivory Coast Introduces £3 R21 Malaria Vaccine for Children from 6 Months in Historic Health Milestone

Jul 15, 2024, 01:40 PM

Ivory Coast has become the first country to introduce the R21 malaria vaccine into its routine immunization schedule for children from the age of 6 months. The vaccine, developed by the University of Oxford and the Serum Institute of India, is expected to play a significant role in the fight against malaria, which kills over 600,000 people annually. The R21 vaccine, priced at £3, has also been authorized by Ghana, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic, and other nations. This milestone marks a historic step forward in global health efforts to eradicate the mosquito-borne illness within the next decade. The vaccine is safe, effective, and recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).