Ministry of Health to Administer First-Ever Typhoid Vaccine

BLANTYRE, Malawi— The Ministry of Health in Malawi is set to start administering the first-ever typhoid vaccine from May 15 to 19, 2023, according to Mavuto Thomas, the Deputy Director of Preventive Health, writes Bridget Mwanoka.

The integrated immunization campaign against typhoid, which targets children from 9 months to 15 years of age, will be officially launched on May 12 at Nkhonde Primary School Ground in Balaka district.

The vaccine will be administered with vitamin A supplementation.

"You can see that most of the vaccines target children because they are vulnerable. The typhoid vaccine will see children getting the jab, which will protect them against the disease," explained Thomas.

The Ministry of Health has appealed to parents and guardians to allow their children to receive the vaccine, showing an efficacy rate of more than 80% in protecting children against the disease.

Thomas stated, "It has been proven that the vaccine will minimize chances of under-diagnosing typhoid and avoid unnecessary complications and death, as a single dose of Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV) is safe and 84 percent effective."

Typhoid fever is a preventable disease that has been a significant public health issue across Africa for about a decade, with an estimated 1.2 million cases and 19,000 deaths annually.

However, previous typhoid vaccines were not widely used, largely due to age restrictions and the need for repeated doses.

The new typhoid conjugate vaccine raises hopes that thousands of children who die from the disease each year can be saved and will also aim to protect children against measles and rubella.

The ministry has urged parents and guardians to take their children to the designated vaccination centres to receive the life-saving typhoid vaccine.