South Sudan launches second phase of malaria vaccination targeting over 300,000 children
By Denis Ejulu
The government, in partnership with UN agencies and the vaccine alliance (Gavi), on Tuesday launched the second phase roll out of the R21 malaria vaccine across 52 counties.
The initiative targeting 324,571 children aged 5 to 23 months is aimed to tackle the rising number of deaths caused by malaria, said a joint statement issued by the ministry of health, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Juba.
Sarah Cleto Rial, minister of health noted that scale up of the malaria vaccination across the country is a critical step in reducing malaria-related deaths, adding that this effort complements the existing prevention interventions like bed nets and antimalarial drugs.
“This steep drop out in the first round of vaccinations and the increasing malaria-related deaths are concerning and highlight the urgent need for additional measures, including improved service delivery, defaulter tracking, community engagement, and follow-up mechanisms,” Cleto said.
A total of 148,878 children across 28 counties in six states received the first dose of malaria vaccine from July 2024 to May 2025 during the first phase.
The statement noted that of the children who received the first dose, only 83,668 returned for the second dose, 51,002 continued to the third dose, and only 11,370 completed the final fourth dose.
Noala Skinner, UNICEF representative in South Sudan said that the launch of the second phase of the R21 malaria vaccine marks a pivotal step forward to protect South Sudan’s children from the devastating risk of malaria.
“We are not just delivering a vaccine; we are giving hope. Every child deserves a childhood free from malaria. The R21 vaccine will shield more children from sickness and death, allowing them to survive, thrive, and shape the future of this nation,” Skinner said
In addition, the statement noted that malaria continues to be a major health challenge in South Sudan, with 5.5 million cases and over 4,000 deaths annually.
“Access to treatment, insecticide-treated bed nets, and vaccines is low, with the 2023 malaria indicator survey showing a rise in malaria prevalence among children aged 6–59 months from 32% in 2017 to 52.6% in 2023, placing a heavy burden on South Sudan’s fragile healthcare system,” it disclosed.
In addition, it also noted that the ministry of health with support from UNICEF, WHO, Gavi and Global Fund partners, are planning for the mass distribution of 9.5 million long-lasting insecticide-treated nets in 2026.
