00:00Malaria vaccine rollout shows promise as Africa scales up protection.
00:04This is the third dose. I've vaccinated him.
00:07And since I've started vaccinating him with malaria vaccines, I've never had a case of malaria.
00:14Uganda is recording steady gains in the uptake of the malaria vaccine among children under five,
00:20one year after its rollout began in April 2025.
00:25Health facilities are reporting fewer malaria admissions and deaths.
00:30Even as the disease remains one of the leading killers of young children nationwide.
00:35At Gulu Regional Referral Hospital in northern Uganda,
00:39caregivers receive regular guidance on vaccine safety,
00:43an effort aimed at easing fears and strengthening confidence in the program.
00:48Malaria vaccine is safe, free and effective for our children.
00:54It does not bring any other abnormality or dissidability that you think.
01:02Despite the encouraging trend, malaria remains a major public health threat in Uganda,
01:08with more than 90% of the population at risk, especially young children and pregnant women.
01:14Community health teams continue to play a critical frontline role,
01:18countering misinformation and encouraging families to have their children vaccinated.
01:24Some people have a negative attitude.
01:28They say this vaccine will make their children viral.
01:33Others say this is the program of government for population reduction.
01:39Uganda's progress reflects similar efforts on the way across Africa.
01:44In Kenya, studies show malaria vaccine acceptance among caregivers remains high,
01:49particularly in high-risk regions.
01:51In Cameroon, nationwide rollout challenges persist,
01:55but early data points to a 17% drop in all-cause clinic consultations among children under five.
02:0317 African countries, accounting for about 70% of global malaria cases,
02:09are now part of the WHO-led malaria vaccination program.
02:13In Uganda, health officials say the impact of the malaria vaccine introduction
02:18is already visible at health facilities.
02:21We still strongly think, oh, the vaccine is working,
02:26and the reduction in malaria cases, we can see from this.
02:31The World Health Organization estimates demand for malaria vaccines across Africa
02:36could reach up to 100 million doses per year by 2030,
02:40as countries push to scale up protection against one of the continent's deadliest diseases.
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