Malaria and immunization heroes
This time last year spirits were high as the malaria vaccine pilot began. In this sobering time, we thank the health leaders, doctors, nurses and community health volunteers who are making this vaccine pilot a reality and who are the lifeline for services that bring us closer to our shared goal for a healthier world.
Malaria and immunization heroes
The provision of life-saving vaccinations to children is made possible thanks to the work of community health workers, nurses and doctors. Here, health care workers in Ghana prepare for a community outreach to help ensure vaccination is available to families who reside further away from clinics and health centres.
Malaria and immunization heroes
This nurse works in Abura Gyabankrom CHPS Zone, Ghana, where she regularly travels to neighbouring communities to provide health education and deliver vaccines and other health interventions. “We always give health education on prevention of malaria… but even with all these interventions we could see there is still a rise in malaria. So I believe the introduction of this vaccine will do us good by helping to prevent malaria. It will join the other control measures for us to be able to prevent malaria.”
Malaria and immunization heroes
When parents or caregivers bring children for vaccination, health care workers remind them that the vaccine should be used with other core prevention measures, including insecticide-treated nets.
Malaria and immunization heroes
When the situation permits, health care workers carry out outreach visits to reach mothers who would not otherwise travel to a health center or clinic.
Malaria and immunization heroes
A health care worker in Ghana captures important information about children’s health and well-being. Each time a child comes for vaccination, health care workers note down the dose in a register and remind parents when to bring the child back for the next dose of the malaria vaccine and for other vaccinations.
Malaria and immunization heroes
Information is provided to parents and caregivers by health workers and health officials – using flip charts, informational leaflets and posters – as well as through meetings with community leaders, community health volunteers, public service announcements, and through the local health media, among other methods. Parents who bring their children to clinics for vaccination do so with the option to vaccinate their children or not, as with other vaccines.
Malaria and immunization heroes
The RTS,S malaria vaccine is given in 4 doses, with the first dose given from 5 months in Malawi, and from 6 months of age in Ghana and Kenya. The fourth and final dose is given around the child’s second birthday.
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