New Malaria Vaccine Launches in Ivory Coast, Paving Way for Disease Control

The R21/Matrix-M vaccine, developed by Oxford University and Serum Institute of India, aims to vaccinate 250,000 children initially.

Ivory Coast is the first country to roll out the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine.
The vaccine is over 75% effective and costs less than $4 per dose.
Serum Institute has produced 25 million doses, with plans to scale up to 100 million annually.
Fifteen African countries plan to introduce malaria vaccines with Gavi support in 2024.
The initiative aims to significantly reduce malaria-related deaths, particularly among children under five.