Malaria Vaccines
for secure childhoods
Malaria claims the life of a child under 5 nearly every minute
Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites transmitted through the bites of infected mosquitoes. The symptoms can be severe, including high fever, chills, and flu-like illness. For children, malaria is especially deadly.
Malaria claims the life of a young child nearly every minute, making it one of the leading causes of child deaths in countries prone to malaria outbreaks.
Malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for the vast majority of malaria cases and deaths. Some of the most-affected countries include:
- The Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Gabon
- Kenya
- Malawi
- Mali
Unfortunately, health inequalities in the region mean millions of children continue to suffer from this preventable and treatable disease. Malaria doesn’t just harm children – it also places a heavy financial strain on families, trapping them in a cycle of illness and poverty. It also disrupts children’s education, which affects their chances for a better future.
Is there a malaria vaccine?
Yes, there are now malaria vaccines giving children the chance to grow up healthy and safe. Two vaccines, RTS,S/AS01 and R21/Matrix-M, are helping protect children when they need it most. Combined with proven tools like bednets (also known as mosquito nets), these vaccines can cut malaria cases by around 75%.
The malaria vaccine roll-out
The World Health Organisation approved the first malaria vaccine in October 2021 and a second vaccine in 2023.
We are focusing our efforts on the countries most in need of the vaccine, ensuring it reaches the most vulnerable children.
Working in partnership with our partners and local communities, we are working to eliminate this life-threatening disease and ensure children grow up healthy and safe. In 2022, we secured supplies of the first-ever malaria vaccine and delivered 12 million doses to 17 countries including Burkina Faso, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Niger, Central African Republic and Sierra Leone. We aim to provide a total of 18 million doses by the end of 2025, saving thousands of children’s lives.
How else are we supporting the fight against malaria?
We support communities in:
- Learning about malaria prevention and treatment.
- Strengthening health systems in communities.
- Enabling research and development of new ways to fight malaria.
This work, combined with the rollout of the malaria vaccine, means families and children can seek protection from the disease.
In May 2025, we partnered with the Federal Ministry of Health in Sudan and the Global Fund to distribute nearly 15.6 million insecticide-treated bed nets to prevent the spread of malaria. An additional 500,000 nets will be distributed in facilities for antenatal care and immunisation.
However, the fight against malaria and other deadly diseases is far from over.
With support from people like you and our partners, we can continue to work with communities to ensure that every child at risk is able to receive life-saving vaccines.
