Nearly 500,000 children die from this disease each year in Africa. This disease is caused by a parasite transmitted by mosquitoes.
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: “As a malaria researcher, I have always dreamed of the day when a safe and effective vaccine against malaria would be developed. There are now two vaccines in development.” Ta.
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The new R21/Matrix-M vaccine was developed by the University of Oxford in the UK; Serum Institute of Indiahas already been approved for use in Burkina Faso, Ghana and Nigeria.
In 2021, the RTS,S vaccine produced by British pharmaceutical giant GSK was first recommended by the US government. who Preventing malaria among children in areas with moderate to high malaria transmission.
“Demand for the RTS,S vaccine far exceeds supply, so this second vaccine is an important addition to protect more children faster and move us closer to our vision of a malaria-free future.” It’s a tool,” Tedros said.
The two vaccines have comparable efficacy rates of about 75% when administered under the same conditions.
The WHO said the cost-effectiveness of the new vaccine is comparable to other pediatric vaccines, with a single dose of R21/Matrix M costing between $2 and $4.
Almost half of the world’s population lives in high-risk areas for malaria, and the majority of infections and deaths occur in Africa.
Since 2019, pilot programs introducing the RTS,S vaccine in three countries – Ghana, Kenya and Malawi – have enabled 1.7 million children to receive at least one dose.
These programs have significantly reduced severe and fatal forms of malaria and reduced child mortality rates.
Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO’s regional director for Africa, said the new vaccines have great potential for the continent as they help bridge the huge supply and demand gap.
“These two vaccines, when distributed at scale and widely deployed, can strengthen malaria prevention and control efforts and save hundreds of thousands of young lives in Africa from this deadly disease. ” she said.
At least 28 African countries plan to introduce WHO-recommended malaria vaccines as part of their national immunization programmes, the group said.
It further added that the RTS,S vaccine will be introduced in some African countries in early 2024, while the R21 vaccine is expected to be available in mid-2024.
WHO also published recommendations for new vaccines for dengue fever and meningitis, as well as immunization schedules and product recommendations for coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
