From 23 - 27 January 2023, a team of EPI and NMCP managers or their representatives from selected countries in West Africa were in Kintampo to participate in a learning visit as part of the ongoing Malaria Vaccine Pilot Evaluation-Case-Control Studies (MVPE-CC) in Ghana. During the five-day visit, programme managers or representatives from Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire and Nigeria shared their experiences in monitoring of vaccine impact and learned practical skills in the use of case-control approaches in monitoring the effectiveness of RTS,S malaria vaccine and other vaccines, and discussed next steps. MVPE-CC is an European and Developing Countries Clinical Trial Partnership (EDCTP) funded study.

During the first two days of the meeting, the consortium members shared the ongoing case-control approach focused on strengthening the evidence for policy on the RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine: assessment of safety and effectiveness using case-control studies embedded in the Malaria Vaccine Pilot Evaluation (MVPE-CC). The case-control studies started on 1st April 2021, are being conducted in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi. Dr Kwaku Poku Asante, Coordinating Investigator and Director, Kintampo Health Research Centre of the Research and Development Division of Ghana Health Service, presented the meeting objectives and background to the first World Health Organization (WHO) approved malaria vaccine (RTS,S/AS01)

Dr Thomas Gyan, the project coordinating fellow presented a framework for monitoring and evaluation of malaria vaccine impact. Dr Asante and Dr Gyan, together presented an overview of the Malaria Vaccine Pilot Evaluation, the results that informed the 6th October 2021 historic announcement of the WHO recommendation for widespread use of the malaria, and determining vaccine status, and dates of does for cases, and controls. Country presentations were also made by teams from participating countries.

The third day of the visit was dedicated to field work, where the programme managers observed case-control data collection and how research officers trace vaccine records in the clinics for children who do not have vaccination records.

The fourth day focused on feedback after the field trip, review of data collection tools, data management processes and statistical methods. The presentation and discussions were led by Data managers and the project statistician.

The final day of the meeting was used to discussed country level plans for rollout or introduction of RTS,S malaria vaccine and development of draft country proposals for impact evaluation. Lessons learned and next steps were also discussed.