Malaria Cases Surge to 249 Million in 2022 as Africa Prepares for Vaccine Rollout

The global fight against malaria suffered a rising setback in 2022, with an estimated 249 million cases reported worldwide, marking a significant increase from previous years. Africa bore the brunt of the disease burden, accounting for 94% of cases and 95% of deaths. Children under the age of 5, who make up nearly 80% of malaria deaths in Africa, remain the most vulnerable group affected by the mosquito-borne illness.

Despite the grim statistics, there is hope on the horizon as two groundbreaking malaria vaccines, RTS,S and R21/Matrix M, are set to be rolled out across Africa in 2024. These vaccines aim to protect young children, who are at the highest risk of severe illness and death from malaria. The World Health Organization (WHO) has been working closely with African countries to prepare for the large-scale introduction of these life-saving vaccines.

The RTS,S vaccine, developed by the Walter Reed Army Research Institute, was approved by the WHO in 2021 and has already been used to vaccinate over 2 million children in pilot programs in Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi since 2019. The vaccine has demonstrated a 13% reduction in deaths in children under 5, not just from malaria but from all causes.

The R21/Matrix M vaccine, developed by Oxford University's Jenner Institute, received WHO approval in 2023 and boasts an even higher efficacy of 75% over a year. The Serum Institute of India has committed to producing 100 million doses of the R21/Matrix M vaccine annually, ensuring wider availability for vulnerable children across Africa.

Why this matters: Malaria remains a major global health threat, with nearly half the world's population at risk. The introduction of these vaccines marks a significant milestone in the fight against the disease, offering hope for reducing the burden of malaria in Africa and saving countless young lives.

The WHO Global Malaria Programme has outlined a new operational strategy to guide its priorities and key activities up to 2030, aiming to change the trajectory of malaria trends and achieve global targets. The strategy focuses on developing norms and standards, introducing new tools and innovation, promoting strategic information for impact, and providing technical leadership of the global malaria response.

Key Takeaways

• Malaria cases rose to 249M in 2022, with Africa bearing 94% of burden.
• Two new malaria vaccines, RTS,S and R21/Matrix M, to be rolled out in Africa in 2024.
• RTS,S vaccine shows 13% reduction in deaths in children under 5.
• R21/Matrix M vaccine has 75% efficacy over a year, with 100M doses annually.
• WHO outlines new strategy to change malaria trends and achieve global targets by 2030.