No child should die from malaria – Nigerian Govt begins free vaccine rollout in Kebbi

The government's commitment to eradicating malaria fatalities among children has been reaffirmed with the official commencement of the free malaria vaccine rollout in Kebbi and Bayelsa States by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).

In an interview with reporters in Abuja to commemorate World Malaria Day 2025, Dr. Muyi Aina, the Executive Director of NPHCDA, encouraged parents and guardians to take advantage of the chance to vaccinate their children against the fatal illness.

"The vaccination is a component of the Federal Government's effort to lower the number of deaths from malaria, particularly in children under five," Aina said.

"It is a vital component of our malaria prevention strategy and is safe and effective."

Both states have incorporated the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine into their regular immunization regimens, making Nigeria one of the first African countries to implement the vaccine widely.

Over 1.5 million children between the ages of five and eleven months are the focus of the first phase, according to Aina, and the immunizations will be administered by qualified medical professionals at Primary Healthcare Centers and outreach locations.

The head of the NPHCDA characterized the free vaccine deployment as a daring move toward reaching the global goal of reducing malaria infections and fatalities by 90% by 2030, since Nigeria continues to have the greatest malaria burden in the world.

We are urging communities, caregivers, and stakeholders to support our campaign on this World Malaria Day. He reassured Nigerians that the vaccine has passed thorough safety and efficacy testing, emphasizing that no kid should die from a preventable illness like malaria.

This year’s World Malaria Day is entitled “Malaria Ends with Us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite,” underlining the urgent need for renewed action against one of Nigeria’s deadliest diseases.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 32 percent of malaria deaths and 27 percent of malaria cases worldwide occur in Nigeria. About 68 million Nigerians contracted the disease in 2023 alone, leading to over 200,000 fatalities, mostly in pregnant women and children under five.