Historic Milestone: Cameroon Launches World's First Routine Malaria Vaccine Program.

Cameroon initiates the world's first routine vaccine program against malaria, providing the RTS,S vaccine free of charge to infants up to six months old. The symbolic first jab was administered to a baby girl named Daniella, marking a significant step in combating malaria, which annually claims 600,000 lives in Africa, with children under five accounting for 80% of the deaths. While the vaccine's efficacy rate is around 36%, it adds a crucial tool to existing measures like mosquito nets and tablets. The program, following successful pilots in Kenya, Ghana, and Malawi, aims to save lives and reduce malaria cases, with 20 other countries planning rollouts this year.