Africa: Five Years On From First Vaccine, Fight Against Malaria Sees Progress in Africa

What the report says

Africa’s malaria fight has made notable gains since the first malaria vaccine was rolled out five years ago, according to a report published by Radio France Internationale and distributed by AllAfrica. The piece says World Mosquito Day has again drawn attention to the disease’s heavy toll on the continent, which bears the vast majority of malaria-related deaths worldwide.

The report highlights the RTS,S vaccine as a major turning point. The World Health Organization recommended it in 2021, and it has since been added to childhood immunization programmes in 25 African countries, with more than 10 million children targeted each year. It also cites WHO data indicating that wider use of prevention tools, including vaccines, helped avert large numbers of cases and deaths globally in 2024, especially in Africa.

A study published in 2026 and referenced by the article found that RTS,S was linked to lower mortality among young children in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi. The report also notes another recent development: WHO pre-qualification of the first anti-malarial treatment made specifically for newborns and young infants.

Despite these advances, malaria remains a major public health challenge. The article says 2024 saw roughly 579,000 malaria deaths in Africa, most among children under five. It also warns that the spread of Anopheles stephensi, a mosquito species adapted to urban environments, could expand transmission in parts of the continent, including cities.