This archive report was first published on 7 October 2021.
On October 7, 2021, Kenya celebrated a major milestone in the fight against malaria with the World Health Organization's (WHO) approval of the RTS/AS01 malaria vaccine for children in Sub-Saharan Africa and other regions.
The Ministry of Health hailed the approval as a significant step in combating the disease, which affects an estimated 3.5 million Kenyans annually, resulting in 10,700 deaths.
According to the Ministry, the vaccine has proven to be safe and effective, leading to a substantial reduction in life-threatening severe malaria and severe anaemia.
Kenya has been at the forefront of the vaccine's deployment, with over 800,000 children receiving the vaccine since 2019 as part of a pilot programme in Ghana, Kenya's Kisumu region, and Malawi.
With the vaccine now formally launched in Kenya, the Ministry of Health aims to expand its reach to other areas, taking into account morbidity data and regulatory provisions.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the approval as a 'historic moment' that could save tens of thousands of young lives each year.
