COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in Africa: Tackling Safety Concerns for Optimal Uptake
Council on Foreign RelationsOct 15, 2023
World's First Malaria Vaccine Rollout Begins in Cameroon
The Facts
Following a 13% success rate pilot campaign in Kenya, Ghana, and Malawi, the African nation of Cameroon started the official rollout of the "RTS,S" malaria vaccine on Monday. It will be free for all children up to the age of six months old and occur alongside other routine vaccines to make it easier for parents.
RTS,S, also known as Mosquirix, is only about 30% effective and requires four doses, with its production estimated at up to 15M doses per year. Meanwhile, a second vaccine, which was approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) last October and is being developed at Oxford University, is reportedly cheaper, requires three doses, and could have an annual output of 200M doses.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Widespread vaccine hesitancy in Africa was exemplified during COVID, and this destructive issue has not gone away. Obstacles to successful vaccination campaigns include individual, cultural, and religious beliefs as well as the spread of misinformation. National, continental, and global institutions must build upon their pro-vaccine campaigns if they want to help African states increase inoculations and decrease deadly diseases.
Establishment-critical narrative
The patronizing tone with which global health institutions speak about Africa is astounding. Perhaps modern-day vaccine hesitancy has nothing to do with misinformation and more to do with the data. As the WHO was beginning its implied consent RTS,S vaccine rollout — meaning the recipients receiving the jab were unaware of it — they probably also didn't disclose that studies showed the vaccine to increase meningitis by 10 times and double the risk of death in girls.
Nerd narrative
There is a 41% chance that global malaria mortality rates will be reduced by 90% when compared with 2015 rates, by 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.