World Health Organization Chooses Kenya to Test First Malaria Vaccine

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday named Kenya as one of the three Aftrican countries that will be used to test the first ever Malaria Vaccine. Kenya will join Ghana and Malawi as the world health body launches the pilot project of the injectable next year.

According to the WHO regional director for Africa Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the vaccine has a potential to rescue thousands of lives that are at risk for Malaria.

The vaccine will be first tested on children of between 5-17 months old to ascertain whether its protective effects it elicited in clinical trials will be viable under real-life conditions.

A report released last week by The Kenya National Economic Survey 2017, indicated that 16,000 people died of malaria last year. The move to choose Kenya was informed by the high number of Malaria cases in the country despite strong prevention and vaccination programs it has injected.