In a bid to tackle the high burden of malaria in Nigeria, the country has initiated a vaccination campaign targeting young children. Nigeria, being the most populous country in Africa, bears a significant portion of the global malaria cases. The World Health Organization reported an estimated 263 million cases of malaria and 597,000 deaths worldwide last year, with a substantial number occurring in children under 5 years old.
The malaria vaccine, developed by Oxford University, aims to prevent severe illnesses and deaths caused by the mosquito-borne disease. The vaccine has shown promising results, with research indicating over 75% effectiveness in preventing severe disease and death in the first year, along with extended protection with a booster dose.
