Malaria Vaccination Produces Positive Results

Despite decades of efforts to control malaria outbreaks, there were over 24 million cases in 2021. The African Region continues to shoulder the heaviest malaria burden, comprising 95% of patients globally, reports to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Unfortunately, children are particularly vulnerable during malaria outbreaks, as nearly half a million African children die from malaria every year.

In October 2023, the WHO recommended the programmatic use of malaria vaccines to prevent P. falciparum malaria in children living in endemic areas.

According to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the approved malaria vaccines are delivering positive results.

On November 7, 2023, Gavi confirmed in a news article that the Mosquirix™ (RTS,S/AS01) malaria vaccine reduced mortality from all causes by 13% in children in the age group eligible for vaccination.

In addition to the significant reduction in all-cause mortality, the vaccine was also responsible for a 22% reduction in hospitalization for severe clinical malaria in children eligible for the vaccine.

"This means.....more children are going to be saved from death in Africa," commented John Bawa, PATH Malaria Vaccine Implementation Lead for West Africa.

As of November 2023, the Mosquirix vaccine is available in African countries, including Malawi, Kenya, and Ghana. Eighteen countries across different African regions are set to receive millions of doses over the next few years.

The Mosquirix vaccine was created in 1987 as part of a collaboration between GlaxoSmithKline and the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research that began in 1984.