AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) applauds the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendation of a new malaria vaccine, R21/Matrix-M, for preventing malaria, which disproportionately affects African children. The affordable and easily deployable vaccine is a welcome step towards vaccinating our world, and Global North countries should help fund the vaccine for equitable distribution.
“Once deployed, the new vaccine will help prevent more than 600,000 annual deaths due to malaria, which affects children under age five in Africa most. We urge Global North countries to ensure adequate resources are available to keep up with the need for doses on the continent and globally,” said Dr. Penninah Iutung, Africa Bureau Chief for AHF. “With game-changing medical developments like R21/Matrix-M, we have the tools to protect our communities, particularly our most vulnerable youth, from this deadly but preventable and treatable infectious disease. Now, we must all work together to deliver on the promise this vaccine offers – saving the millions of lives affected by malaria.”
