Nigeria: Stakeholders Hail Debut of Malaria Vaccine

Ruby Leo
Minister of state for Health Prof. Muhammed Ali Pate has described the debut of the world's first experimental malaria vaccine produced by pharmaceutical giants GlaxoSmithKkine as a positive development for health.

Prof Pate told Daily Trust that the vaccine which has been undergoing research for many years has shown remarkable promise and would help reduce the burden of maternal and infant mortality.

"It is a great leap forward in preventing the diseases that kill our children, mothers and adults," he added.

According to him, though the vaccine would not be in the market until 2015 and the vaccine is still undergoing clinical trial, there is hope that a malaria vaccine would be produced in no time.

Pate added that the country is already improving its vaccine distribution channels to ensure that the recent vaccines being introduced by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) get to the children that need it.

He pointed out once that is done, when the malaria vaccine is finally in the market, Nigeria will have the structures and systems in place to facilitate its effective distribution.

The President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr Idria Omede also described the vaccine as a good omen for the fight against malaria.

"Going by the magnitude, severity and associated with morbidity and mortality caused by malaria. This will be a relief for endemic and non- endemic areas that may have imported malaria.

Another medical practitioner, Dr Aminu Magashi Garba, said "from what I have heard the trial continues till 2014 and the children used in the clinical were protected by only 47% from malaria and it cannot be in the market until it has a 90% potency, so we still have a have long way to go."

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