The R21/Matrix-M vaccine will begin distribution across 20 African nations in 2026, marking a breakthrough decades in the making.
The World Health Organization has officially approved the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine for global distribution after successful pilot programs in Ghana, Kenya, and Burkina Faso. The vaccine, developed by Oxford University and manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, demonstrated 75% efficacy in preventing severe malaria in children over 12 months of follow-up.
Health ministers across sub-Saharan Africa have hailed the approval as “historic.” The Serum Institute has pledged to produce up to 200 million doses annually, with Gavi and UNICEF coordinating logistics. The R21 vaccine complements the RTS,S formulation introduced earlier, but offers higher efficacy and lower cost—roughly $4 per dose.
Public health experts emphasize that vaccination must work in tandem with traditional prevention strategies, including bed nets and mosquito control. Still, the R21 rollout could halve child mortality from malaria within a decade, marking one of the most consequential public health victories of the century.