Chad has launched three vital new vaccines in its Expanded Program on Immunization. These are vaccines against malaria, pneumococcal infections and rotavirus diarrhoea making Chad one of the first countries to introduce 3 vaccines at the same time. The introductions are being implemented by the Ministry of Health with support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF and WHO.
Malaria, pneumococcal infections and rotavirus diarrhoea are among the main causes of infant mortality not only in Chad but across Africa. These vaccines provide new powerful tools in the public health arsenal to fight these diseases that have ravaged Chadian communities for far too long.
“The vaccine is an additional tool in the fight against malaria. It has been chosen by the country based on its prequalification, ensuring a guarantee of quality, efficacy and safety for its integration into the vaccination program,” said Dr Abdelmadjid Abderahim, Minister of Public Health. “It will specifically target all children aged 0-23 months by December 31, 2023.”
The deployment of these vaccines will be done at the national level for vaccines against pneumonia and diarrhoea, and in several phases for the malaria vaccine, with an initial launch in 28 health districts. For the malaria vaccine, this process is strategic to ensure optimal vaccine coverage in the hardest-hit areas and guarantee a rapid and significant impact.
This makes Chad the fourteenth country to introduce the malaria vaccine into the national immunization program, in alignment with the 2030 immunization agenda. By integrating these innovative vaccines into its prevention strategies, Chad is taking a giant step towards achieving the ambitious goal set by the WHO of a 90% reduction in malaria-related mortality by 2030.
“I chose to vaccinate my child because I saw how dangerous malaria can be. I am committed to ensuring that my child receives all four doses of the vaccine and I will take other measures, such as making sure she sleeps under a treated mosquito net,” said Mariam Aboubakar, whose daughter was the first to receive the malaria vaccine.”
In introducing PCV into the national immunization program, Chad seeks to protect children against pneumococcal infections, a fearsome pathogen responsible for serious illnesses such as pneumonia, meningitis and septicemia. These infections are one of the main causes of infant mortality in Chad and globally, particularly in children under five.
It is against this backdrop that the introduction of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) into routine immunization in Chad is of the utmost importance. This vaccine has proved to be impactful as a tool in reducing the incidence of bacterial pneumonia and meningitis. The introduction of PCV is projected to avert up to 5000 deaths per year.
Countries that have already integrated PCV into their vaccination programs have seen a significant reduction in infant mortality, demonstrating the effectiveness of this intervention in preventing serious respiratory illnesses in children. This success suggests similar benefits for Chad, where the vaccine will help protect thousands of children against these potentially fatal diseases.
In addition to respiratory infections, diarrhoea is another major cause of infant mortality in Chad. Severe diarrhoea, often caused by rotavirus, leads to acute dehydration which, if not treated promptly, can be fatal. Before the introduction of rotavirus vaccines, around 40% of hospital admissions for severe diarrhoea in young children in the region were attributed to this virus.
Every year, it is estimated that over 200,000 children under the age of five in Africa die as a result of diarrhoea, a large proportion of which is due to rotavirus, a figure that highlights the urgent need for vaccine intervention.
In response to this threat, multiple countries have already introduced the rotavirus vaccine into their immunization programs, with encouraging results. Available data show a significant reduction in cases of severe diarrhoea, ranging from 30% to 50% in some countries. This reduction not only saves lives but also helps to relieve hospital overcrowding and already overburdened healthcare systems.
In readiness for these introductions, the World Health Organization (WHO), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), and other partners worked closely with national health authorities to strengthen key vaccine introduction measures.
Effective vaccine introduction requires comprehensive systems including the adoption of a national immunization policy and guidelines, the integration of the new vaccine into the distribution schedule of other vaccines and health interventions, the development of an operational roll-out plan, training of health personnel, investment in infrastructure, technical capacity, vaccine storage, community engagement and demand creation, as well as formative supervision, monitoring and evaluation of the process to ensure the quality of vaccine distribution.
“The launch of the malaria vaccine marks an important milestone in the prevention and control of the disease, particularly in protecting children from serious illness and death. We are committed to supporting national health authorities to ensure effective deployment of the malaria vaccine as well as the scaling up of other malaria control measures” said Dr Blanche Anya, WHO Representative in Chad.
Commenting on the development, Thabani Maphosa, Gavi’s Chief Country Programmes and Delivery Officer said; “Preparing to introduce three vaccines at once is no simple task, and we commend the Ministry of Health, the Government of Chad, frontline health and community workers, and all partners for the strong commitment to child health demonstrated by this pioneering effort. Across the African continent, we have seen the transformative impact the introduction of these three vaccines can have on health and development, families, communities and health systems. Gavi remains committed to working with our Alliance in partners to support the vision of a healthier, more prosperous future for Chad.”