The nationwide rollout of the malaria vaccine in Cameroon is delivering life-saving results, with mothers across the country reporting dramatic improvements in their children’s health since the program accelerated in early 2024. Health officials say the RTS,S/AS01 vaccine—commercially known as Mosquirix—is already proving to be a turning point in the fight against Africa’s biggest infectious disease killer.
According to data from Cameroon’s Ministry of Public Health, approximately 70 percent of malaria deaths in the country occur in children under the age of five. The vaccine program, which began its phased introduction in January 2024 before scaling nationally throughout the year, is specifically targeting children between six and 24 months of age—the demographic most vulnerable to severe malaria and death.
A Mother’s Relief
Marie Tchakpala, a mother of two from Cameroon’s Littoral Region, said her youngest child used to suffer multiple malaria episodes every rainy season. Since receiving all four recommended doses of the vaccine, he has not contracted the disease in over eight months.
“Before the vaccine, I was at the clinic almost every month with fever,” Tchakpala told health workers during a routine checkup. “Now I come for normal vaccinations and my son is healthy. I am grateful.”
Health workers at clinics across Cameroon report similar testimonials. In the Southwest Region, where malaria transmission is highest, hospital admissions for severe malaria in children have dropped noticeably since the vaccine program reached full coverage in late 2025.
How the Vaccine Works
The RTS,S vaccine was developed over decades of research and received endorsement from the World Health Organization in 2021. It requires four doses: the first at six months of age, the second at seven months, the third at nine months, and a final booster dose at approximately two years old.
Clinical data from Cameroon shows that children who complete the full four-dose schedule experience a significant reduction in both mild and severe malaria cases. WHO reports that in trial areas, the vaccine reduced hospitalizations from severe malaria by approximately 30 percent and cut the number of clinical malaria episodes by about 40 percent in the first year after the final dose.
A Pan-African Effort
Cameroon is not alone. The vaccine rollout is part of a broader pan-African movement to introduce RTS,S across sub-Saharan countries where malaria imposes the heaviest burden. Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, and Burkina Faso have all integrated the vaccine into their routine immunization programs, and data from these nations has informed Cameroon’s own rollout strategy.
The global health community has celebrated Cameroon’s progress. Dr. Ousmane Touré, a WHO regional advisor, said the results demonstrate that the vaccine can be effectively deployed at scale even in countries with limited health infrastructure.
“Cameroon has shown that with proper planning, community engagement, and supply chain management, this vaccine can reach the children who need it most,” Touré said in a statement to African news outlets.
Challenges Ahead
Despite the optimism, challenges remain. Some rural communities have reported hesitancy due to misinformation about vaccine safety, and logistical hurdles in keeping the four-dose schedule complete mean some children drop out before receiving all required injections.
Cold chain storage has also been a concern in Cameroon’s northern regions, where electricity access is inconsistent. The government has invested in solar-powered refrigeration units to address this, but expansion is ongoing.
Funding for the sustained rollout also depends on continued international support. The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (Gavi) has committed funding through 2028, but advocates are pushing for longer-term financial guarantees to ensure the program does not stall.
Looking Forward
Health officials say Cameroon’s experience offers a blueprint for other African nations working to introduce or scale the malaria vaccine. With malaria causing hundreds of thousands of deaths across the continent each year—most of them in young children—the vaccine represents one of the most significant advances in public health in recent decades.
For Marie Tchakpala and millions of other Cameroonian mothers, the impact is already tangible. “My son can play outside without me worrying every day,” she said. “That peace of mind is worth everything.”
The Ministry of Public Health says it aims to achieve 90 percent coverage of the target age group by the end of 2026.
Sources: African News, WHO Africa, Cameroon Ministry of Public Health