The Federal Government of Nigeria is in a race to secure $1.24 billion to procure the R21 malaria vaccine, intending to cover an estimated 31 million children under the age of five, according to a BusinessDay analysis. The vaccine, jointly developed by Oxford University and the Serum Institute of India (SII), consists of a three-dose course and a booster shot, totaling about $4 per child.
While the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control granted conditional approval for the vaccine in April 2023 due to its 71 percent efficacy rate, the federal government lacks immediate financing plans for procurement. Muhammad Ali Pate, Nigeria’s coordinating minister for Health and Social Welfare, emphasized the need for a well-planned strategy to generate funding for the vaccine rollout.
Currently, 68 percent of Nigeria’s vaccine financing is covered by global development partners, leaving the government to navigate how to fund its share. Pate highlighted the necessity of careful consideration regarding financing, infrastructure, and training before introducing the vaccine.
Recognizing Nigeria’s fiscal constraints, Pate revealed plans for a major meeting of global partners on May 3 to review the country’s malaria elimination strategy. The aim is to explore how Nigeria can optimize various tools, including vaccines, to combat its high malaria incidence.
If Nigeria can afford the vaccine, Pate stressed the importance of integrating it with existing malaria interventions such as chemoprophylaxis, bed nets, and malaria case management through primary healthcare systems.
Malaria remains a significant health challenge in Nigeria, with approximately 23 percent of deaths under the age of five attributed to the disease, according to the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS). Globally, malaria accounts for nearly half a million deaths in children under five each year, with Nigeria carrying the largest burden.
Adar Poonawalla, CEO of the Serum Institute of India, pledged to offer the R21 vaccine to the African market at $4 or less in its first year of rollout. Production is expected to scale up significantly, with a target of reaching 100 million doses per year.
The R21 vaccines are set to be distributed primarily through the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Gavi, a global vaccine alliance. Chad, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, and South Sudan are among the first countries slated to receive doses of the vaccine.
