Delayed malaria vaccine rollout a costly gamble

Malaria remains one of Kenya’s greatest public health challenges, with children under five bearing the heaviest burden.

The country has been at the forefront of malaria vaccine trials and was among the first three African nations to pilot the RTS,S vaccine under the Malaria Vaccine Implementation Programme.

However, Kenya now finds itself lagging behind in adopting the R21/Matrix-M vaccine, a more cost-effective and scalable alternative to RTS,S, while neighbouring countries forge ahead. The delay is both unjustified and dangerous.

The introduction of malaria vaccines was a groundbreaking moment in the fight against the disease.

RTS,S, the first malaria vaccine to receive World Health Organisation approval, was a historic step, but it has limitations, including a complex four-dose regimen and moderate efficacy. R21, developed by Oxford University and manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, surpasses RTS,S in key areas:

Higher efficacy: Clinical trials show that R21 achieves over 75 percent efficacy, compared to the approximately 56 percent efficacy of RTS,S.

Lower cost: R21 is priced at around $3 per dose, significantly lower than RTS,S, which costs between $9 and $10 per dose.
Easier storage and scalability: R21 is more physically stable, making it easier to transport and store, particularly in rural health facilities with limited cold chain infrastructure.

Proven implementation in other African nations: Countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, and Burkina Faso have already begun rolling out R21, demonstrating its viability and effectiveness in real-world settings.

Despite these advantages, Kenya has yet to make the transition.

Kenya has faced challenges in securing vaccines from GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, due to nonpayment, underscoring the urgent need for cost-efficient healthcare policies.

Read: New study calls for collective action to reduce malaria burden

The hesitancy to adopt R21 represents a failure to prioritize long-term financial sustainability in immunisation programmes.

The cheaper and more effective R21 vaccine provides an opportunity to cut costs while saving more lives. A policy that prefers RTS,S over R21 is economically unsound and medically indefensible.

Every day that Kenya delays R21 implementation, children continue to die from malaria. With climate change increasing mosquito populations and malaria transmission, Kenya cannot afford inertia.

Malaria cases remain high, particularly in endemic regions such as western Kenya and the Lake Basin. A faster transition to R21 could prevent thousands of deaths annually, yet bureaucracy and unexplained hesitations keep the vaccine out of reach.

Kenya demonstrated remarkable agility during the Covid-19 pandemic by rolling out multiple vaccine options simultaneously, allowing for better coverage and accessibility.

There is no reason why a similar approach cannot be adopted for malaria vaccines. RTS,S and R21 can coexist in a phased transition, ensuring that children continue receiving protection while Kenya moves toward a cost-effective and more efficacious alternative.

Kenya has long been a regional leader in healthcare innovation, yet on malaria vaccination, it is falling behind. The Health ministry must provide a clear roadmap for R21 rollout, ensuring that financial and logistical barriers are addressed with urgency.

The silence surrounding this delay is unacceptable. The government owes it to its people to make decisions based on scientific evidence and financial prudence, rather than bureaucratic inertia.

R21 is not just another vaccine; it is a lifeline for millions of Kenyan children at risk of malaria. Every moment of delay is a moment where preventable deaths occur. The government must act—and act now.

Gibson Maina is Country Specific Lead at 1Day Sooner