The malaria burden in Nigeria accounts for 25 percent of cases global cases. The causes include the climate, high transmission potential, socioeconomic development, overstretched health care system, and displaced populations[1, 2]. The disease is frequently treated in Nigeria through self-prescription, utilization of nearby herbs, utilization of spiritualist/traditional priests/and utilization of health facilities/hospital[3, 4]. Additionally, normal control measures incorporate the utilization of medication (prophylaxis), insect sprays (coil and sprays), insecticide-treated nets (ITNs), and window and door nets[5, 6]. Artemisin combination therapy (ACT) drug blends are used as standard prescriptions in Africa. In Nigeria explicitly, Arthemeter lumefantrine is used as essential drug because of its efficacy in treatment of malaria[7].
In Nigeria, Malaria kills approximately 400,000 people, including mostly young children, per year. The malaria vaccine known as Mosquirix, RTS, S/AS01, or simply RTS, S is the first vaccine proven to offer partial protection against malaria[8, 9]. The WHO recommends that in the context of comprehensive malaria control, the S/AS01 malaria vaccine should be used for the prevention of P. falciparum malaria in children living in regions with moderate to high transmission as defined by the WHO. The RTS, S/AS01 malaria vaccine was provided in a schedule of four doses in children from 5 months of age for the reduction of malaria disease and burden[10–11].
The malaria vaccine medicine comes in few brand names and has been financed and made commonly open for fast, viable and reasonable treatment. To eliminate malaria in Nigeria, there must be sincere and sustained commitment by the government, policymakers and citizens[12]. It is essential to improve existing malaria control measures and targeted interventions to reduce large burden of the disease and reduce the direct or indirect healthcare cost for the treatment and management of the disease[13, 14]. Development of an antimalarial vaccine will be important for regional malaria elimination and future eradication effort. Malaria vaccine policy is a global effort and the vaccine has already been applied to a high number of children in Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi[14–16].
There have been efforts to evaluate the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, efficacy and safety impact of malaria vaccines implemented in three regions of Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi[16, 17]. The pilot programme that is coordinated by WHO have indicated that the vaccine has been successful in terms of safety and feasibility[18]. The evaluation studies are investigating the ways of implementing the vaccine policies more effectively and efficiently, by assessing the dosage of vaccines administered and schedule. These will be providing lessons learnt for the implementation of further effective and cost-effective -malaria vaccine programmes[17–19].
The Nigeria vaccine policy was proposed in the year 2021. The purpose of implementation of this vaccine policy is to address the objective and goals of accomplishing accessibility, independence and vaccine security in the country[20]. It is trusted that the improvement of this Policy will supplement the existing vaccine Policy and assist the enhancement of vaccine preventable infections in Nigeria. Evidence is showing that the policy actors have sufficient knowledge of the benefit that the vaccine possess and it impact to recipients which is a reduction in the severity of malaria in Nigeria. It is suggested that to eliminate malaria in Nigeria there must be an absolute resolve in the government to explore all available options to upscale existing malaria control measures. For every strategy or policy to be successful, it is essential to execute certain factors to come to consider[21]. The governance of a nation plays a significant role in policy implementation. The cycle and stages through which a policy goes through decides its success. Bureaucracy prompts delays in execution of a policy[22]. Nigeria runs three system of government: Executive, legislative and judiciary Bills are initiated by the executive arm then, at that point, introduced to the legislative where deliberations are done which takes time before a consensus is reached then passed into law[23]. The judiciary review through the bill which they analyze and determine the constitutionality of legislative, executive and bureaucratic actions and policies[24]. The judiciary guarantees that each government action align to the goal and objective of the laws which is to improve on the wellbeing of the public[25]. In order for malaria vaccine to be added to the already existing malaria control measures, the process of policy would be void of unnecessary bureaucracy[26]. Malaria vaccine is a new control measure available that needs be targeted by the Nigerian government.
The current study is aiming to assess the knowledge and perceptions of the policy actors on the implementation, safety and financing of a malaria vaccine policy in Nigeria. The study will provide important implications for successful implementation of a Malaria Vaccine policy in Nigeria.