MOH Trains Health Workers Ahead of Malaria Vaccine Scale-Up

MOH Trains Health Workers Ahead of Malaria Vaccine Scale-Up

(Monrovia, June 22, 2025) – As part of efforts to combat malaria and protect the public, the Ministry of Health (MOH), through its Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI), in collaboration with Last Mile Health, World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, PMI Reach and Jhpiego,has concluded a two-day National Training of Trainers (TOT) workshop for health workers from June 20–21, 2025.

The training was held in Monrovia and designed to prepare frontline health workers for the nationwide scale-up of the RTS,S malaria vaccine rollout.

The RTS,S vaccine, scientifically known as Mosquirix, derives its name from its components: the repeat ® and T-cell epitope (T) regions of the circumsporozoite protein (CSP) of Plasmodium falciparum, combined with a surface antigen (S) from the hepatitis B virus.

This formulation helps the immune system recognize and fight malaria more effectively while enhancing the vaccine’s stability and immune response.
Having been successfully introduced in Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi, the RTS,S vaccine has been available in Liberia for over a year.

The country is now gearing up to expand distribution across nine counties, namely: Montserrado, Margibi, Bong, Bomi, Nimba, Lofa, Grand Cape Mount, Gbarpolu, and Grand Bassa. The vaccine targets children between 5 and 15 months of age and follows a four-dose schedule, administered at five months (MV-1), six months (MV-2), seven months (MV-3), and fifteen months (MV-4).

During the workshop, participants were trained on all nine modules of the RTS,S/MV curriculum, with a strong focus on building technical capacity.
The sessions covered best practices in vaccine administration, data reporting, monitoring of adverse events following immunization (AEFI), and strategies for effective community engagement to promote vaccine acceptance.