Tragically, the most common victims of malaria in 2026 remain children under the age of five and pregnant women, primarily in the WHO African Region. According to 2024–2026 health data, children under five account for approximately 75% to 80% of all malaria deaths globally. This is because young children have not yet developed any immunity to the Plasmodium parasite. Pregnant women are also at high risk because pregnancy reduces a woman's immunity, making her more susceptible to infection and increasing the risk of miscarriage, premature delivery, and low birth weight. While the rollout of new malaria vaccines (like R21/Matrix-M) has begun to decrease these numbers in some regions, the disease continues to disproportionately affect the most vulnerable populations in rural, economically disadvantaged areas with limited access to healthcare.