Lusitana and the world’s first malaria vaccine

One year ago, Gilimbeta was sitting on a wooden bench at a rural health facility on the outskirts of Lilongwe, Malawi, with a mixture of excitement and nervousness. That day, her daughter, Lusitana, would be the first child in the world to receive the RTS,S malaria vaccine through routine immunization as part of a landmark pilot in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi. 

One year later, a total of 275 000 children like Lusitana have received their first dose of the RTS,S malaria vaccine through the pilot implementation programme.

The RTS,S malaria vaccine is the first and, to date, the only vaccine that can significantly reduce malaria in children – the group at highest risk of dying from malaria. The vaccine is complementary to other proven measures to fight malaria. Having grown up in Malawi, a country where suffering from malaria is very common, Gilimbeta knows all too well the toll the disease takes on children, families and communities.  

Historic first dose of RTS,S

Only a few hours later, Lusitana received her first dose of the vaccine. The baby might have cried out when she first received the jab but soon she was all smiles – a joyful celebration of taking part in the pilot of a new tool with the potential to save tens of thousands of lives in Africa.

Malawi’s historic vaccine launch was followed a few days later in Ghana, and a few months later, in September, in Kenya. 

Robert Kapininga, a nurse assistant, gives baby Lusitana the first dose of the world’s first malaria vaccine. Photo: WHO/ M. Nieuwenhof 

One year on 

Today, one year later, the world has changed in unexpected ways, as countries battle the public health threat of COVID-19, and health systems worldwide are being stretched to their limits. Health services must adapt and innovate to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic’s effects. Still, World Malaria Day and the start of Immunization Week offer opportunities to focus on the importance of sustaining essential health services in this context – including to use all means to prevent, detect and treat malaria. Malaria claims the life of one child every 2 minutes. 

RTS,S vaccine: a new tool with potential for Africa

Since 2000, the scale up of proven interventions, such as insecticide-treated bednets, have driven down malaria illness and death, but progress has slowed, particularly in Africa. Efforts are underway to increase the use of the tools we have, but even with scale up of existing tools there is a critical need for new tools to further drive down malaria illness and deaths – the RTS,S malaria vaccine may be one of those tools. The malaria vaccine can reduce malaria in children, including cases of severe malaria, related hospital admissions and the need for blood transfusions. The current pilot programme will help guide and optimize the vaccine’s future use. 

Malaria and immunization services critical during COVID-19

Prevention is especially important at this time. We know from experience that a disruption in essential health services can seriously increase illness and death from common diseases, including malaria and other vaccine preventable diseases, particularly among the most vulnerable. As the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, immunization against vaccine preventable diseases, and continued use of malaria prevention measures are critical for reducing illness and relieving pressure on fragile health systems. 

Vaccines are an essential part of protecting children from deadly diseases and should continue to be delivered.  Immunizations can be delivered in ways that minimize any health risks for health workers and communities, to help ensure that vaccines reach everyone, everywhere.  

One of the first babies to be vaccinated at a rural outreach clinic in Ghana. Photo: WHO/F. Combrink

“The introduction of the malaria vaccine last year was an historical moment in malaria control, for vaccines and for public health,” said Dr Mary Hamel, Lead for the Malaria Vaccine Implementation Programme at WHO.

Ministries of Health in each of the pilot countries are leading the phased vaccine introduction, supported by WHO and in collaboration with in-country and international partners, including PATH and GSK, the vaccine manufacturer. Financing for the pilot programme is provided by a trio of global health funding bodies: Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, The Global Fund and Unitaid.