Dr Oyesegun Rasaaq, an oncologist, says the malaria vaccine will have significant impact in reducing incidence of parasite
Rasaaq told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that it is a welcome development.
“It is a welcome development, it will save a lot of lives, it’s been long in coming.
“Indirectly will have significant impact in reducing incidence of parasite related cancer as well,” Rasaaq said.
NAN reports that the World Health Organisation (WHO)
recommended widespread use of the world’s first malaria vaccine for the decades-long battle against the deadly disease for children at risk.
The vaccine is geared towards children in sub-Saharan Africa and other regions with moderate to high transmission.
The recommendation to begin using the RTS,S vaccine is based an ongoing pilot programme set up by WHO and partners in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi that has reached more than 800,000 children since 2019.
WHO Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, said that the long-awaited malaria vaccine for children is a breakthrough for science, child health and malaria control. (NAN)
