The RTS,S malaria vaccine reaches 100 million doses across sub-Saharan Africa, contributing to a 40% drop in malaria deaths among children under five.
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has announced that the RTS,S malaria vaccine (Mosquirix) has reached the historic milestone of 100 million doses administered to children across sub-Saharan Africa. The achievement, reached just three years after the WHO recommended widespread use of the vaccine, has contributed to a 40% reduction in malaria deaths among children under five in countries with high vaccine coverage.
Malaria remains one of the deadliest infectious diseases in the world, killing approximately 600,000 people annually, predominantly children in Africa. The RTS,S vaccine, developed by GSK over 30 years of research, was the first malaria vaccine to receive WHO recommendation in October 2021.
The vaccine has been deployed through routine childhood immunization programs in 30 African countries. The four-dose regimen is administered starting at 5 months of age, with doses at 6, 7, and 18 months. Coverage rates have exceeded 70% in countries with established immunization infrastructure, including Kenya, Ghana, Malawi, and Tanzania.
Real-world effectiveness data has largely confirmed the clinical trial results. In regions with high coverage, severe malaria cases requiring hospitalization have declined by 30%, and malaria-related deaths have dropped by 40%. When combined with other interventions such as insecticide-treated bed nets and indoor residual spraying, the reduction in mortality reaches 70%.
The success of RTS,S has paved the way for next-generation malaria vaccines. The R21/Matrix-M vaccine, developed by Oxford University and the Serum Institute of India, has shown even higher efficacy in clinical trials and is being rolled out in parallel. Together, the two vaccines are expected to transform malaria control in Africa.
Dr. Seth Berkley, former CEO of Gavi, described the 100 million milestone as one of the most significant achievements in global health this century. For decades, malaria prevention relied primarily on vector control and treatment. Having an effective vaccine changes the calculus of malaria elimination, making the once-distant goal of eradication potentially achievable.
The economic impact is also substantial. Malaria costs African economies an estimated $12 billion annually in lost productivity, healthcare expenditure, and premature death. Reducing the disease burden through vaccination is expected to yield significant returns in economic development and educational attainment as healthier children attend school more regularly.
Challenges remain, including reaching children in conflict-affected areas, maintaining cold chain requirements in remote regions, and sustaining funding for the ongoing rollout. However, the trajectory suggests that malaria could follow the path of other vaccine-preventable diseases toward dramatic reduction or elimination.