Moissala

Researchers are evaluating two ways of giving the R21/MM malaria vaccine to children in Chad, where malaria spreads mainly in certain seasons. The study is a phase IV trial comparing the vaccine given with routine childhood vaccinations versus the vaccine given at the same time as seasonal malaria prevention treatments. The goal is to see how well each method protects children from malaria in real-life conditions in areas with high seasonal malaria transmission. The trial involves 26 clusters, each representing a health center's area, randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group receives four doses of the vaccine (three initial doses plus one booster) integrated into the routine vaccination program. The other group receives the same four-dose schedule synchronized with the annual seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) campaign. This design allows comparison of vaccine delivery through routine immunization versus synchronized seasonal administration. Children aged 6 months to under 5 years participate, with the primary outcome being the number of malaria cases confirmed by laboratory tests over 17 months, from August 2025 to December 2026. The study includes enhanced monitoring of malaria cases at health facilities, surveys to measure vaccine and prevention coverage, and a nested case-control study of severe malaria cases. Researchers will also evaluate the cost-effectiveness, acceptability, and feasibility of the synchronized vaccination strategy through interviews, economic evaluations, and impact modeling to support future malaria vaccine policy and planning in Chad.