Ethiopia has launched its first malaria vaccine, targeting 58 high‑burden districts in an effort to protect children from the disease. The rollout began on 18 September 2025 in Turmi, South Omo Zone, and will be accompanied by a mass distribution of insecticide‑treated nets. This two‑pronged approach aims to strengthen the country’s fight against malaria, which claimed 1,157 lives and affected over 7.3 million people last year.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention will supply 186,000 vaccine doses and more than 12 million mosquito nets to support the initiative. Ethiopia becomes the 23rd African nation to introduce malaria vaccination, marking a significant step in the regional fight against the disease. According to Agonafer Tekalegne, Country Director of Malaria Consortium Ethiopia, the vaccine “strengthens collective efforts to move closer to a future where no child has to suffer or die from malaria.”
The launch event was attended by officials from the Federal Ministry of Health, the Regional Health Bureau, and representatives of organizations including the Malaria Consortium and the World Health Organization. Dr. Dereje Dhuguma, State Minister of Health, emphasized the vaccine’s significance, noting that it can bring substantial benefits when integrated with existing interventions.
The Malaria Consortium, which has a long‑standing partnership with Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health, has supported malaria‑vaccine rollouts in several other countries—Burkina Faso, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Sudan, and Uganda. With its presence in the southern Ethiopia region, the Consortium is well positioned to aid the vaccine rollout and broader malaria prevention and control efforts.
The introduction of the vaccine comes at a crucial time, as recent surges in malaria cases threaten to reverse years of progress. The rollout is expected to play a critical role in protecting children and reducing the disease’s burden in Ethiopia, with likely significant impacts both locally and regionally.
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