Africa not ready for malaria vaccine, says researcher

African countries are not prepared to receive the malaria vaccine yet, a scientist said on Tuesday.

Dr Wlifred Mbachama from the Laboratory for Public Health Biotechnology in Cameroon called upon governments in the continent to set up structures that would facilitate the vaccine to reach the grassroots.

“Last minute rushes may interfere with the implementation and distribution of the vaccine,” said Dr Mbachama pointing out the trait as an attribute of most African countries.

Speaking at the Pan African malaria conference in Nairobi, the researcher challenged African leaders to kick off necessary legislation before the vaccine arrives in their respective countries.

He pointed out the lack of adequate storage facilities and other regulatory requirements as some of the obstacles to an effective roll-out of the vaccine.

“It is not simply receiving and using the vaccine,” Dr Mbachama said adding that it takes three to five years to develop capacity to obtain any vaccine.

He cited that failure to adhere to instructions on the storage conditions of the vaccine would lead to denaturing of the product thus reducing the efficacy of the product.

Dr Mbachama challenged governments to look into improving the rate at which national regulatory bodies authorised the 'flow’ of medical supplies in the country.

“The shelf life, extent of efficiency and the interaction of disease with the population has to be considered at an earlier stage,” he said calling for the involvement of research institutes in the countries.

He recommended that more scientists be trained to increase the continent's research capacity once the vaccine arrived.

Political goodwill and water-tight partnerships with scientists worldwide will also assist countries improve on morbidity due to malaria-related illnesses.