Université de Thiès, Senegal
Workshop on implementation strategies for the RTS,S/AS01 vaccine in settings with seasonal malaria

Overview

January 2023

Representatives from the National Malaria Programmes (NMPs) and Expanded Programmes of Immunization (EPI) from 13 African countries in West and Central Africa participated in a recent workshop to consider implementation strategies for delivering the RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine. This included discussions on the need for implementation research to investigate potential strategies.

The workshop was co-hosted by the OPT-SMC initiative and TDR through the Access and Delivery Partnership (ADP), with technical input from Gavi, the WHO Malaria Vaccine Implementation Programme, the WHO Regional Office for Africa, PATH and other stakeholders.

Areas across Africa where seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) is implemented (OPT-SMC initiative).

Areas across Africa where seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) is implemented (OPT-SMC initiative).

Workshop objectives

To review the current evidence on the RTS,S malaria vaccine in terms of evidence on vaccine efficacy and impact, and safety.
To share experiences across countries that have introduced the RTS,S vaccine in routine child vaccination services in Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, and SMC-implementing countries that are considering malaria vaccine introduction, to better understand the practical implementation challenges and lessons learned for vaccine introduction.
To discuss regulatory and supply management issues when introducing the RTS,S vaccine in the health systems.
To discuss implementation strategies and mode of delivery in countries with seasonal transmission and low or moderate EPI coverage during the 1st and 2nd year of life.
To discuss the operational/implementation research needs to document the implementation of RTS,S in terms of effectiveness, acceptability, feasibility, safety and coverage.

“In areas of seasonal transmission where we achieved high coverage of seasonal malaria chemoprevention and long-lasting insecticidal nets, the additional implementation of the RTS,S malaria vaccine could help to reduce 92% malaria burden and accelerate the pathway towards malaria elimination.”

-Professor Jean-Louis Ndiaye, Université de Thiès, Senegal and host of the workshop

Université de Thiès, Senegal
Professor Jean-Louis Ndiaye

Workshop documents

Short report in English and French

Presentations

01_OPT-SMC update - SMC research

Apr 25, 2023, 07:29 by Izabela Suder-Dayao

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