Togo: In the fight against malaria, the government will introduce the R21 vaccine starting September 1, 2025
Beginning September 1, 2025, Togo will take a new step in the fight against malaria by officially introducing the R21 malaria vaccine into its public health system. The decision was announced during an awareness session held on August 26 in Lomé, organized by the Immunization Division of the Ministry of Health and Hygiene.
The meeting brought together several stakeholders: policymakers, representatives of parent associations, community leaders, teachers, and media professionals from the Greater Lomé region. Its main objective was to prepare communities for the integration of this vaccine into the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) and to encourage broad public support, particularly in a context still marked by skepticism following COVID-19 vaccination campaigns.
The R21 vaccine, intended for children aged at least five months, will be administered free of charge in public health facilities. Four doses are planned: the first at 5 months, the second at 6 months, the third at 7 months, and the last at 15 months. According to Dr. Gnassounou-Akpa, head of the Immunization Division, the vaccine has proven safe and effective in reducing both severe and uncomplicated malaria in young children. He urged parents to trust the process and mobilize for their children’s health.
The introduction of the vaccine does not replace other prevention methods but complements them. It adds to the use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets, seasonal chemoprevention for children, and intermittent preventive treatment for pregnant women.
Togo is benefiting from financial and technical support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, for the rollout of this initiative. In this regard, Sania Nishtar, the organization’s Executive Director, recently met President Faure Gnassingbé on the sidelines of TICAD 9, highlighting the strategic importance of this milestone for Togolese public health.
