Health experts says the RTS, S/AS01 malaria vaccine recently approved by the World Health Organisation would reduce death of children in Africa.
Medical experts including a consultant parasitologist at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Prof. Wellington Oyibo, and the President of the Academy of Medicine Specialties of Nigeria, Prof. OladapoAshiru, says the Federal Government stated that it was considering buying the vaccine
The WHO Director-General, TedrosGhebreyesus, at a news conference on Wednesday said the organisation had endorsed the RTS, S/AS01 (RTS, S) malaria vaccine for children in Africa.
The global body gave the approval following a two-year vaccine programme that involved children in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi.
He says it is a historic moment. The long-awaited malaria vaccine for children is a breakthrough for science, child health and malaria control.Using this vaccine on top of existing tools to prevent malaria could save tens of thousands of young lives each year.
Malaria, according to the WHO, remains a primary cause of childhood illnesses and death in sub- Saharan African killing more than 260,000 children annually.
Commenting on the breakthrough, Oyibo stressed the need for the government to invest in malaria prevention interventions.
