By Faith Barbara N Ruhinda Updated at 1424 EAT On Wednesday 25 June 2025

As the deadly grip of malaria continues to claim thousands of lives each year, a bold shift is underway in Uganda—one that is giving families across the country a renewed sense of hope.

The introduction of the malaria vaccine, now being considered as a requirement for nursery school admissions, could mark a turning point in Uganda’s decades-long battle against its leading cause of illness and death.

For mothers like Harriet Namwanje, a resident of Lwamata in Kiboga District, the vaccine brings both emotional and economic relief.

“I’ve liked the vaccine because it will keep our children safe from this killer disease,” she said. “It will also save us time and money we’ve been using for treatment. That money can now go into farming, education, and other developments.”

Despite years of preventive measures like mosquito nets and keeping doors shut at night, many residents—especially those living near swamps—remain at high risk.

“We still get bitten even during the day,” said Zam Nakintu, who lives in a mosquito-prone area. “It’s not enough to just be careful—the vaccine will make a real difference.”

With this vaccine, our babies will be protected from severe malaria attacks that delay their growth and sometimes cause death,” Harriet Namwanje added.

For residents like Prossy Nambito of Kitagenda village, the vaccine represents far more than a medical advancement—it’s a lifeline.

“I’ve lost many relatives to malaria. Knowing my children can now be protected gives me hope for a healthier future,” she said.

Her sentiments are echoed by Kamadah Kasule, a father who describes the vaccine as “a blessing.”

Efforts to bring immunization services closer to rural communities have also made a significant impact. Sarah Nakagwa, a mother from the same region, said the improved access has made it easier to balance daily responsibilities with healthcare.

“We dig in the morning and walk short distances to vaccination centres in the afternoon. I can’t miss any immunization dose now that the services are near,” she said.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), malaria remains the leading cause of severe illness and death among young children in Uganda. In 2022 alone, the disease was responsible for 40% of outpatient visits, 25% of hospital admissions, and 14% of hospital deaths across the country.

By the following year, Uganda ranked among the top five African countries with the highest malaria burden, prompting urgent national and international action.

In response, Uganda launched the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine, which is administered in four doses at 6, 7, 8, and 18 months of age. The WHO has described the rollout as essential, particularly in high-burden districts where malaria poses a consistent and deadly threat to child health.

In a bold move to boost uptake and drive down infection rates, the Ugandan government is now considering making malaria vaccination a requirement for nursery school enrollment a policy shift that could significantly influence public health outcomes.

Asuman Kasujja, acting District Health Officer for Kiboga, confirmed plans to implement an electronic medical records system that would verify each child’s vaccination status before admission.

“A full immunization card, including the malaria vaccine, will soon be required for nursery school admission,” said Asuman Kasujja, acting District Health Officer for Kiboga.

Kasujja emphasized the vaccine’s potential to drastically reduce the district’s malaria burden, noting that the disease accounts for nearly half of all outpatient visits in the region.

“We expect to reduce uncomplicated malaria cases by 40 percent and complicated cases by 30 percent, which would significantly lower mortality,” he said.

He also highlighted the economic toll malaria takes on families. The average cost of treating a single case of severe malaria is about Shs 15,000 a sum that can severely impact household finances, especially in rural communities.

Since the vaccine’s launch in April 2025, Kiboga District has immunized 2,219 babies, reaching 58 percent of the target population aged 6 to 11 months.

Despite this encouraging progress, challenges remain. Vaccine hesitancy, driven by religious beliefs and misinformation, continues to hinder uptake in some communities.

Uganda’s malaria vaccine rollout—backed by WHO, GAVI, UNICEF, and AMREF is the largest of its kind in Africa, targeting 105 districts with over 2.3 million doses distributed nationwide.

According to UNICEF, the vaccine works by blocking the malaria parasite before it reaches the liver, where it would otherwise multiply and go on to infect red blood cells causing illness and, in many cases, death.

Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, Uganda’s Minister of Health, hailed the vaccine as a “game-changer” in the fight against malaria.

“Sixteen people die from malaria every day in Uganda ten of them are children under five,” she said. “This vaccine will dramatically reduce that number. We expect it to prevent at least 800 severe cases every single day.”

Dr. Robin Nandy, UNICEF’s Representative to Uganda, echoed this sentiment, stressing the vaccine’s role in lowering child mortality and expanding access to life-saving healthcare.

As Uganda continues to implement this landmark campaign, health officials hope the malaria vaccine will not only save lives but also pave the way for a future where no child dies from a preventable disease.

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