The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that over the past three years in Kenya, cases of children hospitalized and dying from malaria have decreased dramatically as a result of the introduction of the world's first malaria RTS,S vaccine. In addition to Ghana and Malawi, Kenya is one of three nations where WHO initiated the Malaria Vaccine Implementation Program's trial phases in 2019.
The trial projects, which will be finished by the end of the year, were first started in 26 sub-counties in Western Kenya's eight counties with the highest prevalence of the disease.
In the counties of Homa Bay, Kakamega, Bungoma, Vihiga, Busia, Kisumu, Siaya, and Migori, over 400,000 children have now received four doses of the RTS, S vaccine, which is available in over one million doses.
In Kenya, Malawi, and Ghana, more than 1.2 million kids have received vaccinations overall.
According to a report issued by the WHO last week, child mortality and severe malaria infection have significantly decreased in the eight lake-endemic malaria zones.
According to Dr. Abdourahmane Diallo, WHO Representative for Kenya, "there was a large drop in lethal severe malaria and a decline in all-cause mortality among children in areas getting the vaccination.
Modeling predicts that for every 200 immunized youngsters, one life is spared.
According to the Kenya Malaria Indicator Survey, for instance, the prevalence in Homa Bay has considerably fallen as a result of the vaccine, going from 27% to just 19%.
1,052,826 doses had been given in Kenya as of the end of the previous year, with 367,360 children receiving their first shot as part of the Ministry of Health's routine immunization program.
As of October 2021, vaccination rates among youngsters in the three African nations totaled over 800,000. After these outstanding outcomes, WHO in October 2021 advised Kenya, Malawi, and Ghana to utilize RTS,S more widely.
The action aims to strengthen P. falciparum malaria prevention strategies for kids living in areas with moderate to high transmission rates.
Kenya is extending the use of the vaccination in 25 more sub-counties across the eight counties in response to the advice. More children who are at risk of malarial disease and death will have access to this extra malaria tool thanks to the expansion.
According to WHO, the extension of malaria immunization in Kenya comes after comparable expansions in Malawi in November 2022 and Ghana in February 2023.
Susan Nakhumincha, the Health Cabinet Secretary, announced the decision to expand RTS,S vaccination to 25 more sub-counties in Western Kenya, bringing the total to 51 sub-counties during the commencement of the extended rollout in Vihiga County last week.
Dr. Nakhumicha cited the positive findings already obtained to reassure parents of the vaccine's safety while pleading with them to enable their children to receive the immunizations.
The vaccine minimizes severe, potentially fatal malaria and is safe. In a press release read by the acting Health Director General, Dr. Patrick Amoth, the CS urged all of the caregivers in the lake-endemic regions to bring their kids to get the malaria vaccine wherever it is available and to make sure they finish the necessary four doses to get the best protection from the vaccine.
"We are delighted to report today that more kids in Kenya will be able to take advantage of the potentially life-saving protection provided by the first malaria vaccine ever developed.
"In places where the vaccine has been provided, we've seen a remarkable decrease in the number of malaria cases and hospitalizations from malaria over the previous three years. We are thrilled to be able to provide this extra malaria treatment to more of our kids, she said.
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