South Sudan Launches Nationwide Rollout of R21 Malaria Vaccine to Immunize Over 250,000

In a major public health initiative, the South Sudanese government, in partnership with UNICEF, WHO, and Gavi, has begun a nationwide rollout of the R21 malaria vaccine, Anadolu Agency reported yesterday.

According to the source, the goal is to immunize over 250,000 children under the age of five across 28 counties in six states.

Malaria remains a leading cause of illness and death in the landlocked East African country. In 2022, South Sudan reported an estimated 2.8 million malaria cases and 6,680 deaths. Health Minister Yolanda Awel Deng emphasized the government’s commitment to reducing the burden of this disease and improving health outcomes for children.

The vaccine rollout follows the arrival of over 645,000 doses of the R21 vaccine in the capital Juba in late May. This landmark initiative aims to protect South Sudan’s most vulnerable population from the devastating impact of malaria.