One year after Cameroon became one of the first countries to roll out a malaria vaccine in routine immunization, the numbers tell a striking story. In the 42 high-burden districts where the vaccine was introduced, malaria cases among children under five dropped from 333,805 in 2023 C.E. to 266,917 in 2024 C.E. — a reduction of nearly 67,000 cases in a single year.
At a glance
- Malaria vaccine rollout: Cameroon administered approximately 366,000 doses across 42 high-malaria-burden districts in its first year, using a four-dose protocol integrated into the national immunization program.
- Child malaria cases: Health facilities recorded a 20% decline in malaria among children under five in the participating districts between 2023 C.E. and 2024 C.E.
- African-wide effort: Cameroon was one of 13 African countries to introduce the malaria vaccine into routine immunization in 2024 C.E., with over 18 million doses administered across the region.
A milestone with a human face
The first children to receive Cameroon’s malaria vaccine were Ndzie Daniela and Ngah Daniel, twins born in January 2024 C.E. Their mother, Hélène Akono, put it simply: “My children are in excellent health. Since birth, they have never had malaria.”
That personal account matters. Malaria remains one of the leading killers of young children in sub-Saharan Africa, and Cameroon carries one of the continent’s heavier burdens. The vaccine’s introduction — supported by the WHO’s AMVIRA initiative — represents the end of a long wait for a tool that many public health experts once considered out of reach.
Rugayatou Sali, a senior nurse at Soa District Hospital, described what she observed on the ground: “Throughout 2024 C.E., the situation improved for children aged six to 18 months.”
How the rollout unfolded
The path was not without friction. Early coverage fell short of national targets, with third-dose completion sitting at just 25% by April 2024 C.E. Catch-up campaigns in September and December pushed that figure to 48% by year-end. First-dose coverage reached 65%.
These numbers still leave room to grow. Reaching the most remote communities — where malaria risk is often highest — remains a real challenge. Supply chains, healthcare worker capacity, and community trust all need continued investment if coverage is to climb further.
But the direction is clear. Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which co-funds the rollout, notes that early adoption countries are building the systems and confidence that will make wider coverage possible in coming years.
Built on a decade of evidence
The malaria vaccine used — known as RTS,S or Mosquirix — was developed over more than three decades. Pilot programs in Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi, running from 2019 C.E. to 2023 C.E., gave researchers the real-world data needed to recommend broad rollout. Those pilots found that the vaccine reduced severe malaria cases by 30% and cut all-cause infant mortality by 13%.
Cameroon’s first-year results are consistent with those findings. A 20% drop in total cases among children under five — in the same year the vaccine was introduced — suggests the effect is real, not statistical noise.
The broader African picture adds weight to that conclusion. Across the 13 countries that launched routine malaria vaccination in 2024 C.E., more than 18 million doses were administered. UNICEF, a partner in distribution, has called the coordinated regional rollout one of the most significant public health expansions on the continent in years.
Why this matters beyond the numbers
Malaria is not just a health crisis — it is an economic one. Families in high-burden regions can spend a significant share of household income on treatment and lose weeks of productive time to illness. A 20% reduction in child cases in Cameroon’s hardest-hit districts means fewer hospitalizations, lower out-of-pocket costs, and more children attending school without interruption.
It also means something harder to quantify: less grief. Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for roughly 95% of global malaria deaths, and children under five bear the largest share of that burden. Every case prevented is a child who does not become a statistic.
The vaccine alone will not end malaria. Bed nets, indoor spraying, and rapid diagnostic testing remain essential. Coverage gaps — particularly in the most vulnerable communities — still need urgent attention. But for the first time, a proven vaccine is reaching children at scale, and the early data from Cameroon suggest it is working.
Read more
For more on this story, see: WHO Africa — Child Health Improves in Cameroon
For more from Good News for Humankind, see:
- Ghana protects a new marine area at Cape Three Points
- Indigenous land rights recognition reaches 160 million hectares ahead of COP30
- The Good News for Humankind archive on Cameroon
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