2024-01-17 06:28:08
Benin received, on Monday January 15, its first vaccines once morest malaria, the 215,900 doses were received at Cotonou international airport by the Minister of Health and representatives of Unicef, WHO and the Global Vaccine Alliance. Benin is a permanently malarious zone. Mortality figures there are high. The country is the fourth country to receive doses of RTS vaccines.
Published on: 01/17/2024 – 07:28
2 mn
With our correspondent in Cotonou, Jean-Luc Aplogan
According to several studies and findings, malaria is the leading cause of death among children under 5 years old. Another figure: it represents 40% of outpatient consultations and 25% of admissions to hospitals in Benin. The arrival of vaccines meets an objective for Benjamin Hounkpatin, the Minister of Health: “ The administration of the anti-malaria vaccine will not only make it possible to control the disease but also, but above all, to save tens of thousands of lives each year.. »
It is necessary to combine
The vaccination schedule provides for four doses for children aged 6, 7, 9 months and under 2 years old, from the first quarter of 2024. But the RTS vaccine is not a miracle product. Like the Minister of Health, Doctor Lise Hélène Adjahi, general practitioner, recommends combining it with other preventive measures: “ We will maintain it with all the other approaches, mosquito nets, prevention and avoid being bitten.. »
Safe and effective
As if anticipating possible resistance, a bit like during Covid-19, the Minister of Health explains that “ vaccination remains one of the safest and most effective strategies “. Without naming them, Lise Hélène Adahi launches this appeal to anti vaccines : « I recommend accepting this vaccine, I can’t believe it’s a bad vaccine “. The malaria vaccine is now part of Benin’s expanded vaccination program.
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