A new generation of malaria vaccines has driven a dramatic reduction in child deaths in Ghana, offering a blueprint for combating one of Africa’s deadliest diseases. However, this hard-won progress is now jeopardized by significant cuts to international aid, primarily from the United States under the Trump administration.
According to data from Ghana’s health service and the international vaccine alliance Gavi, confirmed deaths from malaria in children under five have fallen nearly 86% in Ghana, from 245 in 2018 to just 35 in 2024. This decline accelerated following the introduction of two new vaccines: one developed by GSK and another by Oxford University and the Serum Institute of India.
“For me, the malaria vaccine is a gamechanger,” said Dr. Selorm Kutsoati, head of Ghana’s immunization programme. The vaccines, which are estimated to reduce malaria cases by over 50% in the first year, have complemented existing measures like insecticide-treated bed nets and preventive drugs.
Despite the proven impact, a funding crisis looms. Gavi, the primary organization purchasing malaria shots for African nations, faces a $2.9 billion shortfall in its overall budget for the next five years. Internal documents seen by Reuters reveal this will result in a 28% reduction in spending on malaria vaccines, potentially leading to 19,000 additional child deaths across the continent due to lower vaccination rates.
The shortfall is largely attributed to major donor withdrawals. In June 2025, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy announced Washington would end its support for Gavi, aligning with President Donald Trump’s “America First” agenda. The U.S. was previously a top donor, contributing $1.3 billion between 2020-2024. A U.S. health official cited a demand for Gavi to phase out vaccines containing the preservative thimerosal—a move opposed by scientific consensus—as a condition for restored funding.
Other nations have also scaled back. The United Kingdom, Gavi’s largest donor, pledged over 20% less for the next five-year period.
On the ground in Ghana, the vaccines’ success is personal. Esther Kolan, a mother in Kasoa, chose to vaccinate her son after losing her brother to malaria and seeing her daughter hospitalized twice from the disease. “I told myself, no matter the condition, I have to go for the vaccine,” she said. Her son, now vaccinated, has never been hospitalized with malaria.
Health officials warn that without sustained funding, recent gains could reverse. Tanzania has already delayed the start of its vaccination campaign due to funding gaps. While some countries like Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast are committing domestic funds, others lack the resources.
“The vaccine implementation was the master stroke that we needed,” said Stanley Yaidoo, a municipal health director in Ghana. “But the gap between the promise of the vaccine and the resources we have to provide it is now the greatest challenge.”
About the Vaccines: The WHO-recommended vaccines require three initial doses and a booster before age two. Real-world data from Ghana and other early-adopter countries shows a significant drop in severe malaria and child mortality, strengthening the case for their widespread use.
Source: Global banking and finance
