The World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the Vaccine Alliance stated Wednesday that nearly 18 million doses of malaria vaccine would be given to 12 African nations. 

Chief of WHO Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus explained in a briefing that "malaria remains one of Africa’s deadliest diseases, killing nearly half a million children under the age of five every year."

Ninety-six percent of all malaria deaths occurred in Africa in 2021.

GSK's Mosquirix (RTS,S) vaccine has now been provided to almost 1.7 million children in three African nations -- Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi -- as part of a trial program.

Tedros explained that "it has been shown to be safe and effective, resulting in a substantial reduction in severe malaria and a fall in child deaths."

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Close to 30 African nations have expressed they want doses.

The countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Niger, Sierra Leone, and Uganda will also receive doses. 

The first vaccinations are expected in the fourth quarter of 2023 and will be deployed in early 2024.

Tedros stated that a second malaria vaccine, the R21/Matrix-M developed by Oxford University and manufactured by the Serum Institute in India (SII), is "under review for pre-qualification" by the WHO, a process that ensures the safety and efficacy of health products supplied to low-income countries. 

Kate O'Brien, director of the WHO's immunization and vaccines division, stated that "it's really important to remember nearly every minute a child dies of malaria... (vaccines are) an additional tool in the toolbox to fight against the severe disease, the deaths that occur," adding that it was a "really essential step forward." 

O'Brien added that the vaccine "is a step absolutely in the right direction, and it's the preview of many more millions of doses that will go out."

According to the WHO, UNICEF, and Gavi, worldwide demand for malaria vaccines is estimated to reach 40-60 million doses per year by 2026, rising to 80-100 million doses per year by 2030.

Recent WHO estimates indicate malaria (a disease transmitted to humans by the bites of certain species of mosquitos) killed 619,000 people globally in 2021.