medicines for africa (mfa)’s Post

NEWS: The July 2024 DHIS2 newsletter is here! Don't miss the biggest announcements from the last month, including Uganda's path to 3x immunization dashboard engagement, new guidance on integrating malaria vaccination data into DHIS2, the latest software updates and patch releases, as well as upcoming events, interviews with key figures in the global HISP network, and research news from around the world. Read now: https://buff.ly/46MiJq1 #DHIS2 #OpenSource #GlobalPublicGood

Vaccines Saved More than 50 Million Lives in Africa over 50 Years, Research Shows Vaccines have saved more than 50 million lives in Africa over the past half century, new research shows. For every death averted, close to 60 years of life were saved on average, according to a report released by the World Health Organization (WHO). The vaccines have been made available through the WHO’s Expanded Programme on Immunisation initiative, which was launched in 1974...Notable achievements have been made through the initiative, including a reduction in measles deaths, with an estimated 19.5 million deaths averted over the last 22 years, the WHO report said. Africa has also witnessed a sharp decline in meningitis deaths, by up to 39 per cent in 2019 compared to 2000. Maternal and neonatal tetanus has nearly been eliminated, while the continent was declared free of indigenous wild poliovirus in 2022.

#Malaria Vaccine: Monitoring is Key to Victory! ️ The fight against malaria took a giant leap with the vaccine rollout, but our job isn't over. We need robust #monitoring and #evaluation systems to ensure this victory is sustained! #Why is M&E crucial? *Tracks impact: Measures the vaccine's effectiveness in reducing cases, reducing severe malaria and hospitalizations, and deaths. *Identifies challenges: Uncovers issues like low vaccine uptake, access barriers, or emerging vaccine resistance. *Informs adjustments: Guides program improvements, resource allocation, and future vaccine development. *Tracks adverse effects following immunization (AEFI). *Identifies associated preventive measures best suited in specific contexts. Share your experience on ME that can guide malaria vaccine implementation. Let's not let our guard down! #MalariaVaccine #PublicHealth #Monitoring #Evaluation #EndMalaria #WHO #UNICEF #GAVI #TGF

Today on #WorldMalariaDay I want to take a moment to celebrate my fantastic colleagues and partners who made it possible to vaccinate more than 2 million children (and counting) with the RTS,S vaccine. RTS,S, developed by PATH and GSK, is the world's first malaria vaccine. This is a great example of how transformative innovation is not possible without investments, strong partnerships, and a deep commitment to health equity. Over the last three decades, PATH's vaccine work has resulted in more than 24 vaccines, where more than half achieved WHO prequalification or EUL.   But we still have challenges to overcome. Every year, 20 million children miss out on the full course of routine vaccines, and more than 10 million children don’t receive any vaccines at all.    To address this, we must continue investing in vaccine development and accessibility. Governments and essential partners, including Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance , require adequate funding to ensure that life-saving vaccines reach those who need them most. Moreover, strengthening local manufacturing capacities is crucial for equitable access to vaccines, to mitigate future supply chain disruptions and build more resilient and sustainable systems. Therefore, PATH also remains steadfast in prioritizing and supporting localized manufacturing efforts.   When we invest in vaccines, we invest in saving lives. Let's do it! Learn more about RTS,S here: https://lnkd.in/emc-vuqY and about PATH’s work on vaccines here: https://lnkd.in/ejbfFBnh #WorldImmunizationWeek #Vaccines4UHC #VaccinesSaveLives #HumanlyPossible

🌟 Historic Milestone in Mozambique's Fight Against Malaria! 🌟 This week, we celebrate a monumental step forward in the battle against #malaria in #Mozambique. In Zambezia province, the malaria #vaccine is being officially introduced through the existing routine immunization system in Mozambique. JSI is proud to provide technical assistance to ensure the successful introduction of the vaccine. Lessons from this initial implementation will guide the scale-up to other provinces in 2025. 💉With over 800,000 doses available, Mozambique aims to immunize around 300,000 children in the first phase, starting August 5, 2024, supporting the government’s efforts to reduce malaria-related morbidity and mortality. Let’s continue to support and sustain these efforts to ensure a healthier future for Mozambique's children. 💪 https://lnkd.in/eBFNGNAW #MalariaVaccine #Mozambique #VaccinesWork #HumanlyPossible USAID Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance

In this article written by Alexander Chiejina and I, we discuss the monumental impact that #vaccinations have had, saving 154 million lives over the past 50 years, mostly children under five. We highlight Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance's mission to provide equitable access to vaccines, crucial for Nigeria’s high prevalence of #zerodose children. Gavi’s new strategy, Gavi 6.0, aims to save 8 million lives by 2030 through local empowerment. With Nigeria set to transition from Gavi funding by 2028, robust domestic plans are essential. In addition, Africa’s dependence on external vaccine sources highlights the need for local production, with initiatives such as the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator #AVMA paving the way toward self-reliance and health security. #VaccinesWork #VaccinesSaveLives #vaccinequity #healthforall #ForOurFuture Nigeria Health Watch The ONE Campaign Africa CDC Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention For more details: https://nhwat.ch/3xBmT6U

Zimbabwe starts an emergency polio vaccination drive after detecting cases caused by a rare mutation The number of polio cases globally has dropped by more than 99% since the global effort to wipe out the disease led by the World Health Organization and others began in 1988. But the majority of children being paralyzed by polio these days are being crippled by a virus that was originally linked to a vaccine. #Zimbabwe | #poliovaccination | #raremutation | #worldhealthorganization | #Healthnews Read more:

A century after the introduction of the #BCG vaccine, there's renewed hope with a new #vaccine candidate, M72/AS01E. This promising candidate is already undergoing critical Phase 3 clinical trials in seven countries, including South Africa. M72/AS01E has the potential to significantly improve protection against #TB disease, especially for older adolescents and adults, where the current BCG vaccine offers limited effectiveness. Here in #Nigeria, like many countries worldwide, children receive the BCG vaccine at 6 weeks old. This vaccination has offered vital protection for nearly a century. The M72/AS01E vaccine, however, holds promise for broader protection across age groups. While BCG vaccination remains a cornerstone of public health strategy, this new vaccine could be a game-changer in eradicating TB. Heres a brief on Tuberculosis (TB): - Caused by a bacterial lung infection. - Symptoms include persistent cough (often bloody), fatigue, fever, night sweats, and weight loss. - Treatable with antibiotics, but early diagnosis and completing the full course are crucial. The successful development of the M72/AS01E vaccine could be a major breakthrough in eradicating TB. Olutoun S. Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, Africa CDC, World Health Organization, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation #tuberculosis #vaccine #publichealth #globalhealth

We have some great news to share from some of our members! 💉 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved Merck’s vaccine designed to protect adults against 21 strains of bacteria to prevent a severe form of pneumococcal disease that can spread to other parts of the body and lead to pneumonia. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gkRKqPdX Sabin Vaccine Institute recently announced a new research project with the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) to optimize the use of the oral cholera vaccine. The research aims to inform vaccination strategies that could be beneficial in tackling the global resurgence in cholera as well as acute vaccine shortages. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eUePj5cb The Central African Republic is now the first country to receive thousands of doses of a new malaria vaccine, thanks to a delivery from UNICEF. The vaccine — called R21/Matrix-M — will be used as part of children’s routine immunization. It comes as welcome news in a country plagued by one of the highest incidences of malaria worldwide; more than 1.7 million cases were reported in 2022. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eBfKK5_V

Vaccines have saved an estimated 154M lives thanks to efforts to deliver them in every country in the world through the Essential Programme on Immunization.    This moment reminds us that vaccines have a greater impact and save more lives when they’re more accessible, providing our best defense against life-threatening diseases, including measles, pneumonia, diarrheal disease, and polio.       By prioritizing investments to expand and scale-up immunizations for those who need them most, we can help achieve a world where no child anywhere dies of an illness we know how to prevent.    A world with immunization for all? That’s #HumanlyPossible. #EndPolio   https://lnkd.in/gGJ3ytFy