Undated photo of World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised the announcement of a new vaccine for malaria on Monday. File Photo by World Health Organization/Twitter
Oct. 2 (UPI) — The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently recommended a groundbreaking vaccine for malaria, a deadly mosquito-borne disease that claims the lives of nearly 500,000 children every year in the African region.
The WHO’s latest recommendation introduces the R21/Matrix-M vaccine as an addition to the previously recommended RTS,S/AS01 vaccine, which has been in high demand but has struggled with limited supply.
Both vaccines have proven to be both safe and effective in preventing malaria in children. The WHO highlights that when these two vaccines are widely implemented, they have the potential to make a significant impact on public health, particularly in areas with a high risk of malaria. This could greatly benefit all children living in these regions.
“As a malaria researcher, I used to dream of the day we would have a safe and effective vaccine against malaria,” expressed WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “Now we have two. The demand for the RTS,S vaccine far exceeds the supply, so this second vaccine is an essential additional tool to protect more children quickly and bring us closer to our vision of a malaria-free future.”
The WHO reports that the R21 vaccine successfully reduced symptomatic cases of malaria by an impressive 75% during the 12-month period following a 3-dose series. It has demonstrated high efficacy, particularly when administered before the peak transmission season for malaria.
In terms of cost, the R21 vaccine is expected to perform similarly to the RTS,S vaccine, making it a cost-effective option at a price range of $2-$4 per dose.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), malaria symptoms often include fever, chills, and flu-like illness. If left untreated, malaria can lead to severe complications and even death.
In 2020 alone, there were an estimated 241 million cases of malaria worldwide, resulting in 627,000 deaths, with the majority of fatalities being children in sub-Saharan Africa. The United States records approximately 2,000 cases of malaria per year.
Along with the malaria vaccine recommendation, the WHO has also issued recommendations from the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) for new vaccines for dengue and meningitis. Furthermore, the organization has provided an immunization schedule and product recommendations for COVID-19.
