Video: Children in Cameroon have become the first people in the world to be vaccinated against malaria

In countries where a mosquito bite can be deadly, the smallest people face the largest threat.

The World Health Organization says in 2022 there were 249 million cases of malaria globally; 608,000 deaths; 77% were children under the age of 5; and almost all cases were in Africa.

Now, children in Cameroon have become the first people in the world to be vaccinated against malaria. Dr. Dylan Pillai, MD, PhD is a professor at UCalgary's Cumming School of Medicine and a member of the Snyder Institute who says this new routine malaria vaccine program introduced in Cameroon has been a long time coming and is a major step forward in preventing the disease.

As another prevention tool beyond nets, this vaccine program is 40 years in the making, and it is projected to save tens of thousands of lives each year. Watch the interview.