The Ministry of Health has dispatched 2.278 million doses of Malaria vaccines to 105 districts to start off the nationwide immunization campaign immediately.
The Health Minister, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng officiated at the flagging off of the distribution ceremony which on Friday March 7, 2025 held at the National Medical Stores head office at Kajjansi in Wakiso district.
Aceng has said that Uganda has taken a bold and historic step towards eliminating malaria in Uganda.
Malaria remains one of the leading causes of illness and death in Uganda, particularly among children under five years and pregnant women.
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“Uganda is the 3rd highest ranking country in the world with the most Malaria cases and 8th with the most Malaria deaths. Every day, we lose 16 people to Malaria and of these, 10 are children under five years. This is unacceptable, and today, we reaffirm our commitment to reversing this trend,” says Dr. Aceng.
She has noted that the introduction of the R21 malaria vaccine marks a major milestone in the country’s fight against malaria.
“This vaccine, which has been scientifically proven to reduce severe malaria and death in young children, will be a game-changer in our prevention efforts,” she added.
2.278 million doses of the malaria vaccine (out of a total of 3.5 million doses received) have today been distributed to 105 districts which have the highest and moderate malaria burden.
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“The vaccine is an added tool to our already existing initiatives including the use of insecticide treated mosquito nets, Indoor Residual Spraying, Prompt treatment with effective antimalarial medicines, Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention and larviciding,’’ Minister Aceng stressed.
Dr. Aceng stressed that the malaria vaccine does not replace the above interventions but adds another powerful tool to protect our children from severe malaria and death.
The vaccine will be administered in four doses to children starting at six months, seven, eight, and eighteen months.
Uganda now becomes the 19th country in the world to introduce the malaria vaccine and is undertaking the largest rollout globally.
The Minister said that Uganda now joins African countries like Kenya, Ghana, and Malawi, where over 2 million children have already received the vaccine.
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She therefore urged parents and caregivers to take advantage of this opportunity to vaccinate their children, adding; “the malaria vaccine is safe, effective, and free.”
The Government of Uganda with co-funding from the Vaccine Alliance and Gavi have jointly financed the procurement of the over 2 million doses.
UNICEF Representative in Uganda, Dr. Robin Nandy who also attended the ceremony said that for many years, Gavi has been working in close collaboration with the Government of Uganda, and partners supporting the Uganda National Expanded Programme on Immunization (UNEPI).
Dr. Nandy also revealed that the Gavi vaccine alliance has supported Uganda in the fight against Malaria with the receipt of 2,278,000 doses of the malaria vaccine valued at US$8,884,200.