KAMPALA, UGANDA — In a significant public health initiative, Uganda has implemented a mandatory malaria vaccination program for all infants aged six months. This strategic move aims to drastically reduce the devastating impact of malaria on young children, a population particularly vulnerable to the disease.
Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, the Minister of Health, officially launched the distribution of 2.2 million vaccine doses, which will be disseminated across 105 districts nationwide.
This campaign is a direct response to the persistent and severe malaria burden faced by Uganda, where the disease remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children under five.
According to UNICEF data, malaria tragically claims the lives of roughly 20,000 Ugandan children each year.
The disease’s prevalence places a heavy strain on the healthcare system, accounting for a substantial portion of outpatient visits (30-50%), hospital admissions (15-20%), and inpatient deaths (up to 20%). Globally, Uganda ranks third in malaria case numbers, following Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and eighth in malaria-related fatalities.
The national vaccination drive is set to commence in April, with Apac district, which exhibits the country’s highest malaria prevalence, serving as the initial point of implementation. The vaccination regimen will consist of four doses, administered at six, seven, and eight months of age, with a final booster given at 18 months.
This comprehensive approach underscores the government’s commitment to safeguarding the health of its youngest citizens and curbing the spread of this life-threatening disease.
“Malaria remains one of the leading causes of illness and death, particularly among children under five and pregnant women. Every day, we lose 16 people to malaria, and of these, 10 are children under five years old. This is unacceptable. We reaffirm our commitment to reversing this trend,” Dr Aceng said.
Uganda joins global malaria vaccine rollout
Uganda has reached a critical turning point in its battle against malaria with the introduction of the ARRA 21 vaccine. This milestone positions Uganda as the 19th nation worldwide to adopt this life-saving intervention and marks the beginning of the world’s most extensive rollout of the vaccine.
This initiative places Uganda alongside Kenya, Ghana, and Malawi, countries where over two million children have already benefited from malaria vaccination. The Ugandan program is a collaborative effort with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which has procured 2,278,000 doses at a cost of $8,884,200 (approximately Shs 32.6 billion), in partnership with the Ugandan government.
Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, Minister of Health, has reassured the public of the vaccine’s safety and efficacy, emphasizing that it will be provided free of charge. She strongly encourages parents to ensure their children receive all four recommended doses to maximize protection against this debilitating disease.
“No parent should pay for the malaria vaccine, whether it’s the first, second, third, or fourth dose. By ensuring that our children receive all four doses, we are significantly reducing malaria-related deaths while also protecting families from financial burdens that push them into poverty,” she said.
Experts welcome the initiative
Dr Robin Nandy, Unicef’s representative in Uganda, commended the government’s decision, stating that the vaccine will complement, but not replace, existing malaria prevention measures such as mosquito nets and insecticide spraying.
“Uganda has made remarkable progress in combating vaccine-preventable diseases like polio, measles, hepatitis, meningitis, pneumonia and diarrhoea. These efforts have been instrumental in safeguarding children’s lives and enabling them to grow and thrive,” Dr Nandy said.
Billie Nieuwenhuys, senior country manager for Uganda at Gavi, also praised Uganda’s commitment to tackling malaria.
“The world’s largest malaria vaccine introduction is a testament to the Ugandan government’s dedication to protecting the most vulnerable children. This initiative will save tens of thousands of lives annually while reducing the economic and health burden of malaria across Uganda and the African continent,” Nieuwenhuys said.
The Ministry of Health is actively calling upon all parents to prioritize their children’s health by ensuring they complete the full four-dose malaria vaccination schedule. This crucial step is projected to dramatically reduce the number of malaria-related fatalities among young children.
In addition to the vaccination program, the Ugandan government is reaffirming its dedication to reinforcing existing malaria prevention strategies. This comprehensive approach, combining vaccination with other control measures, is essential to realizing the national goal of a malaria-free Uganda.
