On Friday, the Global Alliance for vaccinations and Immunization announced that it would provide $155.7 million to Sub-Saharan African nations to help with the procurement and distribution of malaria vaccinations beginning in 2022.

In a statement released on Friday in Abuja, GAVI stated that its board acknowledged the necessity of the primary health care system’s integration and development.

“The board’s historic approval of a malaria vaccine program and financing will provide African countries a critical new tool in the fight against malaria,” the statement said in part.

The board stated that a successful malaria vaccine program should support intentional and intensive coordination between malaria control and immunization programs at the global and national levels to ensure the most effective deployment of the vaccine alongside other interventions. The initial investment for the program is estimated to be $155.7 million for the years 2022–2025.

“Child immunization can assist advance the equity agenda and offers a powerful platform to reach disadvantaged children, especially those who are not covered by bed nets or other current preventive measures. Lastly, in order to promote the growth of a robust malaria vaccine industry, the Board highlighted prospects for next-generation vaccines and the necessity of market-shaping initiatives.

Seth Berkley, the CEO of GAVI, was reported in the statement as stating that the organization’s choice to fund the immunization program would save many lives each year.

“Today represents a significant turning point in our fight against malaria,” he declared. The Gavi Board’s decision to provide funding for a fresh malaria immunization campaign for Sub-Saharan African nations has the potential to save tens of thousands of lives there each year.

“In conjunction with other interventions, such as routine use of insecticide-treated bed nets, indoor insecticide spraying, malaria chemoprevention, and timely testing and treatment, the vaccine is an important additional tool to control malaria in Africa.”

In order to ensure that nations could use the new weapon in the fight against malaria, he stated the organization looked forward to collaborating with international malaria stakeholders.

“Progress in malaria control has stalled after significant gains in the past two decades, and new tools are urgently needed to get back on track,” he continued. Each year, malaria claims the lives of almost 260,000 African children under the age of five, and six Gavi-eligible nations account for 50% of all malaria deaths worldwide.

“Africa continues to have the highest malaria burden and the highest risk of malaria-related deaths among children, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic’s potential to disrupt immunization programs.”