In a review published in BMC Medicine, researchers addressed the challenges of reaching high-risk children with malaria vaccination and discussed their policy implications. They identified health system-related risks hindering vaccine effectiveness and proposed solutions for equitable and universal protection against malaria.
The study highlighted limited government health financing, vaccine allocation frameworks, and core issues in maximising impact. It emphasised the need for transformative changes in health financing, updating prioritisation frameworks, and addressing systemic barriers to ensure the widespread accessibility and effectiveness of malaria vaccines.
The review emphasised the importance of proactive planning, robust data systems, and targeted interventions at both national and subnational levels to overcome challenges and maximise the impact of malaria vaccination in Africa.