The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has announced that free malaria vaccines are now available at Primary Healthcare Centres in Kebbi and Bayelsa for children aged five to 11 months.
Dr. Muyi Aina, the Executive Director of NPHCDA, shared this information in an interview with reporters on Friday in Abuja, marking World Malaria Day. Aina encouraged parents and caregivers to make the most of this life-saving opportunity.
“The vaccine is part of the Federal Government’s ongoing effort to reduce malaria-related deaths, particularly among children under five,” Aina explained. He added that the malaria vaccine is now being administered free of charge in Kebbi and Bayelsa, emphasizing that it is safe, effective, and a crucial addition to Nigeria’s malaria prevention strategy. The R21/Matrix-M vaccine is being integrated into the routine immunization schedules in both states, positioning Nigeria as one of the first African countries to roll out the malaria vaccine on a large scale.
Aina mentioned that over 1.5 million children are expected to benefit from the initial phase, with trained healthcare workers providing vaccinations at both fixed and outreach service locations. With Nigeria bearing the highest malaria burden in the world, he stressed that the introduction of this vaccine represents a bold step toward reaching the global goal of reducing malaria cases and deaths by at least 90% by 2030. “On this World Malaria Day, we urge communities, caregivers, and all stakeholders to support the campaign. No child should lose their life to a preventable disease like malaria.”
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“The vaccine has gone through thorough safety and effectiveness assessments,” he said, urging widespread participation to help safeguard future generations from this deadly disease. According to NAN, World Malaria Day 2025, with the theme “Malaria Ends with Us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite,” serves as a strong call to action in the fight against one of Nigeria’s most deadly diseases.
