OPT-MVAC partners gathered in Somone, Senegal, from 24-26 March 2026 for the consortium’s first annual meeting, bringing together researchers, national programmes and technical partners to review progress and align priorities for the next phase of malaria vaccine implementation research.
During the meeting, the consortium’s 14 partner countries shared updates on malaria vaccine rollout plans, early implementation experiences and operational challenges linked to delivery, uptake and completion of multi-dose schedules. Discussions focused on practical issues affecting implementation in routine health systems, including defaulter follow-up, missed opportunities for vaccination, data quality, and reaching children in fragile and conflict-affected settings.
Discussions also reinforced that the impact of malaria vaccines will depend not only on vaccine availability, but on each country’s ability to strengthen delivery systems, sustain demand and support completion of multi-dose schedules.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to review progress across OPT-MVAC workstreams, including implementation research, pharmacovigilance, communication and capacity strengthening activities. Participants exchanged experiences and explored context-specific approaches to strengthening vaccine delivery, from community follow-up and digital tools to closer integration with existing malaria and immunisation platforms.
As the consortium moves into the next phase of the project, countries developed draft action plans to guide implementation over the coming year, reinforcing OPT-MVAC’s collaborative and country-led approach to supporting malaria vaccine rollout across the region.