Kenya Becomes 3rd African Country to Launch Malaria Vaccine

Kenya has become the third country in the continent to adopt a malaria vaccine in what could be a major boost in the war against the killer disease.

The vaccine was officially launched in Homa Bay County on Friday by Health Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki.

The Ministry of Health indicated that the vaccine will be rolled out in eight counties including Homa Bay, Kisumu, Migori, Siaya, Busia, Bungoma, Vihiga and Kakamega.

Speaking during the launch, CS Kariuki said the vaccine will be added to the immunization schedule for Kenyan children.
The government looks to have more than 300,000 children vaccinated in the next three years. The vaccine will be administered to children aged six, seven, nine and 24 months.

“To get proper protection, a child must get all the four vaccine doses and continue sleeping under a mosquito net every night,” the ministry said.

At least 219 million people across the world contracted malaria in 2017, and 435,000, mainly children, died, according to Reuters.

Kenya becomes the third country in Africa to adopt this vaccine after Ghana and Malawi.