However, the fear that her 6-month-old baby might contract malaria again—after already suffering two bouts of the often-deadly parasitic infection—caused her to change her mind overnight.
“I am confident that this vaccine will shield her from malaria,” Ms. Fontie said, moments after having her daughter vaccinated at the Tiko District Hospital in Cameroon’s southwest region on Jan. 23.
“When I finally made the decision to have her vaccinated, my prayer was for the vaccine not to cause any side effects for her,” the mother of one and a hairdresser told The Epoch Times by telephone.
“Malaria has been tormenting us lately. My child suffered from malaria for the second time just a week ago. I spent nearly FCFA 100,000 (US$165) to get her treated.
“I was also diagnosed with malaria in my sixth month of pregnancy. I spent more than FCFA 150,000 to get myself treated.”
Ms. Fontie is now looking forward to completing the vaccine’s four-dose schedule in the coming months.
The injectable vaccine is being administered free to Cameroonian children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years old.
MVIP is coordinated by WHO in collaboration with UNICEF and other partners, and funded by Gavi, the Global Fund, and UNITAID, with donated doses from GSK.
Overall, Cameroon is aiming to reach a half-million children with the malaria vaccine in 2024 and 2025.
The National Malaria Control Program in Cameroon reports a malaria hospital incidence of 113 cases per 1,000 inhabitants.
Breeding Grounds for Mosquitoes
Cameroon’s tropical climate provides an ideal habitat for mosquitoes, contributing to the ongoing transmission of the disease, health experts say.The geographical distribution of the disease is influenced by environmental conditions that favor the breeding of mosquitoes, which are the vectors for the malaria parasite.
“Limited access to health care services, especially in rural and remote areas, hinders early diagnosis and treatment of malaria cases,” Dr. Leonard Kouadio, chief of the health and HIV section at UNICEF;s offices in Cameroon, told The Epoch Times.
That can lead to more severe forms of the disease and higher mortality rates, particularly among vulnerable populations such as children and pregnant women, he says.
“Furthermore, the emergence of drug-resistant malaria parasites poses a significant challenge to effective treatment. Resistance to commonly used antimalarial drugs reduces the effectiveness of treatment regimens, making it harder to control the spread of the disease.”
Dr. Kouadio says the introduction of the malaria vaccine in Cameroon represents a “critical advancement” in malaria control efforts.
“The [malaria] vaccine has been shown in clinical trials to provide partial protection against malaria in young children,” he said. “The vaccine’s ability to reduce the incidence of severe malaria, hospitalizations, and deaths in young children has the potential to alleviate the socioeconomic impact of the disease on families and communities.
“By targeting the most vulnerable population group, the vaccine complements existing malaria control strategies, such as the use of insecticide-treated bed nets and indoor residual spraying, to create a more comprehensive approach to malaria prevention and control in Cameroon.”
Vaccine Gets High Acceptance Rate
Like Ms. Fontie, many parents came to the Tiko District Hospital on the first day of the vaccination campaign to have their children inoculated.“Parents are very receptive to the vaccine,” Dr. Andre Youmbi, district medical officer for Tiko in southwestern Cameroon, told The Epoch Times.
“More than 200 children were administered the vaccine on the first day,” he said.
Of the roughly 8,000 patients at the health facility every month, malaria accounts for at least 70 percent of all consultations.
“Tiko is one of the health districts in Cameroon with a very high prevalence of malaria. We tell parents that the vaccines are just complementary,” Dr. Youmbi said.
Health officials at the Etoug-Ebe Baptist Hospital—a privately owned health facility found in the heart of the country’s capital—also confirm that one-third of the 12,000 patients received monthly suffer from malaria.
“Malaria ranks first among the illnesses we receive here and both the young and the old are affected,” Dr. Theresia Bouetou Tantoh, the hospital’s chief medical officer, confirmed.
“But children under 5 and pregnant women are hardest hit. However, very few deaths are recorded. The malaria vaccines will surely reduce the rate of malaria cases,” Dr. Tantoh told The Epoch Times.
The twin babies of fashion designer Helene Akono were the first children to receive the new malaria vaccine at the Soa District Hospital on the outskirts of Cameroon’s capital, Yaounde.
The 32-year-old mother of six is hopeful that the vaccine will shield her kids from contracting malaria.
“My son once suffered from severe malaria three years ago which rendered him unconscious,” Mrs. Akono told The Epoch Times.
“I was very happy having my children vaccinated because I know it will shield them from malaria,” she said.
Health Minister Dr. Malachie Manaouda described the official rollout of the new malaria vaccine as a “historic” move for the country and Africa as a whole.
More Countries Finalize Rollout Plans
Nearly every minute, a child under 5 dies of malaria.With several African countries now finalizing rollout plans, an additional 1.7 million doses are set for delivery to Burkina Faso, Niger, and Sierra Leone in the coming weeks.
Across the continent, around 20 countries have plans to introduce the vaccine this year to reach a total of more than 3 million children.
Overall, more than 30 African countries have expressed interest in a routine program of malaria vaccination.
Introducing the vaccine in many countries in 2024 will depend on when the second WHO-prequalified malaria vaccine is available and countries’ levels of preparedness, says Aurelia Nguyen, chief program officer at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
“Today represents a historic milestone as we will finally be able to offer a new tool in the fight against a disease that has impacted the African continent most of all, accounting for 95 percent of all deaths globally,” she said.
Misinformation and Rollout Challenges
Comprehensive preparations are needed to introduce any new vaccine, including the antimalarial vaccine, into essential immunization programs, experts say.These include training of health care workers, investing in infrastructure, technical capacity, vaccine storage, community engagement and demand, and sequencing and integrating rollout alongside the delivery of other vaccines and health interventions.
Patricia Postigo, a Doctors Without Borders medical coordinator, says the introduction of the malaria vaccine will play a key role in reducing malaria morbidity and mortality. However, she voiced concern over its introduction into the vaccination schedule and its follow-up.
“Four doses of the vaccine will be administered to children aged between 5 and 17 months, three doses with an interval of 1 month between them and a further dose at 12 months after the third dose.
“These doses do not coincide with the other vaccines on the children’s calendar, which will mean more visits to health facilities and greater follow-up by parents,” Ms. Postigo told The Epoch Times in an email.
She also notes that many communities are “very far” from the health structures and often travel long distances to get vaccinated.
“Moreover, at a time when vaccination coverage rates and children with zero doses of vaccines have increased in recent years due to the pandemic and recurrent conflicts, it is not only this vaccine that will be a challenge but all the vaccines that a child should receive as a child.”
Ms. Postigo also is worried about the possibility of the vaccine reaching all the most vulnerable populations, those in isolated areas, those in the middle of conflict, displaced populations, and populations without access to health services.
“I think that will be the big challenge,” she said.
“The availability of a malaria vaccine is a great achievement for medicine, for health professionals, and above all for the population that will benefit from it. However, we are aware that it has its limitations and that it is one more measure available in the fight against malaria.”
Consequently, Ms. Postigo suggests that the vaccine will have to be administered while continuing all other preventive measures such as bed nets, insecticides, indoor residual spraying, and drug prophylaxis.
Another challenge that can undermine efforts to introduce the new malaria vaccine in Cameroon is the problem of vaccine hesitancy and misinformation.
Dr. Adalbert Tchetchia, a health sociologist and head of the Social Mobilisation Unit at the Expanded Program on Immunisation in Cameroon, says the government is tackling this problem head-on.
“We analyze the reactions of populations in order to identify their concerns, their expectations, and misconceptions about the vaccine in order to better respond to them,” he told The Epoch Times.
“We train media and digital actors on how to disseminate messages on the safety, effectiveness, and quality of the vaccines. A toll-free number [1510] has been set up to manage concerns raised by communities.
“We have strengthened the capacities of health care providers and community health care workers who are in regular contact with the populations,” he said.
Dr. Kouadio of UNICEF Cameroon Country Office says the U.N. education agency is committed to providing parents with the information they need to make informed choices about their children’s health.
“By acknowledging parental concerns and providing clear, evidence-based information, it’s possible to address vaccine hesitancy and promote the importance of vaccination in safeguarding the health of children and communities,” he said.
“It’s natural for parents to have questions about vaccines, and UNICEF in support of the Cameroon Ministry of Health teams, encourages open dialogue with health care providers to address any concerns.”
