Will the USA Offer Malaria Vaccines in 2026?

In the United States, malaria is considered by the government to be a rare disease, with nearly all cases reported in travelers returning from areas where the disease is endemic, primarily in the Americas and Africa.

Florida, due to its high volume of travel to malaria-endemic regions, consistently reports a significant number of imported cases, historically averaging around 70 cases per year. So far in 2026, seven cases have been reported in individuals with travel history to a malaria-endemic area.

In 2025, Florida confirmed 49 cases of travel-associated malaria, according to reports from the Florida Department of Health.

Fortunately, there was no local transmission of malaria in 2025, but health officials remain vigilant due to the potential for future outbreaks.

A notable instance of local malaria transmission recently occurred on Florida's west coast in Sarasota County, where seven cases in 2023 were linked to local mosquitoes. A previous occurrence was reported on the southeast coast in Palm Beach.

These cases were swiftly contained through rapid response measures implemented by local health officials.

Looking ahead, travel-related malaria cases are expected to continue into 2026. According to the Pan American Health Organization, the Americas reported more than 537,000 confirmed malaria cases in 2024, representing a 6% increase from the 505,000 cases reported in 2023.

The majority of these cases in the Americas remain concentrated in Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela, which account for about three-quarters of the total cases in the region.

While two malaria vaccines have been in use for years, neither is currently offered to international travelers departing from the U.S. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended two vaccines—Mosquirix and R21/Matrix-M—for preventing Plasmodium falciparum malaria in children living in moderate- to high-transmission areas.

Both WHO-recommended vaccines are safe and reduce the incidence of clinical malaria by over 50%.

As of March 12, 2026, these vaccines are available in the U.S. only through specific research trials or in particular contexts, and they are not routinely offered to residents or travelers.

For now, travelers should focus on preventing mosquito bites.