The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) is set to commence malaria vaccination on Monday.
The Vaccine Alliance, Gavi, in October, donated 846,200 doses of R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine to the federal government for the pilot phase of the malaria vaccine administration.
The NPHCDA said it has commenced the training of health workers that would be involved in the immunisation, adding that it also hosted stakeholders across the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) and non-EPI sectors ahead the introduction of the malaria vaccine in Nigeria
According to the organisers, the first phase of the vaccination which will take place in Kebbi, and Bayelsa states, would be administered in four doses on infants at five, six, seven, and 15 months of age, to be fully protected.
The second phase will be in 19 states and FCT, while the rest of the states in the federation will join in the third and last phases.
Dr Aliyu Ladan, the Director for Advocacy and Communication at the NPHCDA, noted that the engagements mark a critical step in the fight against malaria, focusing on partnership, innovation, and inclusivity, to ensure successful rollout and equitable access for all.
On the same note, the Vaccine Network for Disease Control (VNDC) has congratulated the Federal Ministry of Health and NPHCDA on a job well done, and promised to play their part in ensuring that the roll out is a success.
Prof Muhammad Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, who took delivery of the vaccines in October, said the arrival of the vaccines marked the beginning of a new path in the fight against malaria.
Pate also commended the WHO, UNICEF and other development partners for the great role they have played over the years.
