MONROVIA, LIBERIA-The Ministry of Health and partners have launched the expanded rollout of the world’s first Malaria Vaccine, RTS, S/AS01, TO nine additional counties across Liberia, a step in the nation’s stride for children’s survival.
The campaign aims to immunize over one hundred eighty thousand children, which will be administered to children ages five to fifteen months, and requires four doses for maximum protection.
Speaking during the launch of the program, Grand Cape Mount County Senator Dabah Varpilah said,” Thirty-eight thousand children have received at least one dose of the malaria vaccine in six counties, and Liberia is among nineteen countries in Africa that have rolled out their childhood immunization program”.
Senator Varpilah also said that the Liberian Government is cognizant of the many challenges that come with such undertakings, and therefore, pledged commitment to continue advocacy for increased domestic resource mobilization and immunization.
She disclosed that lawmakers are currently working on the establishment of an immunization caucus that will champion the increase of appropriations to support immunization in Liberia.
The Senate Committee Chair on Health called on all stakeholders and parents to ensure that children from five to fifteen months receive all four doses of the malaria vaccine for the best protection.
Meanwhile, the Chief Medical Officer of Liberia, Dr. Catherine Cooper, said,” The vaccination is just one component of strategies to reduce the prevalence of malaria in the country”.
Dr. Cooper iterated that in order to ensure that children receive the vaccine, case management is prioritized for the most vulnerable, especially children.
The Liberia Chief Medical Officer, however, said that the vaccination is a critical component to target the vulnerable population that is children less than two years and above five months.
She emphasized that the Ministry of Health will also ensure that the right information about the vaccine will be disseminated to encourage parents to bring their children and monitor any adverse reactions that will come with taking the vaccine.
Dr. Catherine Cooper acknowledged the efforts of the partners in ensuring that the Ministry of Health succeeds in undertaking the expansion of the Malaria Vaccine across the remaining nine counties.