South Sudan receives first batch of new malaria vaccine from WHO

South Sudan received a new malaria vaccine from the U.N. health agency to help fight the disease that kills many children in the country. The vaccine will be given to areas with the most malaria cases. In 2022, South Sudan had 2.8 million malaria cases and 6,680 deaths. The country has one of the highest rates of malaria in the region, with 7,630 cases and 18 deaths daily. The health minister of South Sudan, Yolanda Awel Deng, believes the new vaccine, along with bed nets and quick medical care, will help eliminate malaria. UNICEF and WHO representatives also support the vaccine's integration into routine immunization to protect those at risk. The R21 vaccine is the second malaria vaccine recommended by WHO, known for being affordable and effective. The new vaccine is seen as a crucial step in the fight against malaria in South Sudan, where the disease is a major threat to children. By distributing the vaccine to high-risk areas and combining it with other preventive measures, the country aims to reduce malaria cases and deaths. The support from international health organizations highlights the importance of this vaccination program in saving lives and improving public health in South Sudan.