Michael Cardinal, FISM News
On Wednesday, the WHO announced that they have approved a malaria vaccine for use in infants and children, providing another tool in the fight against the deadly mosquito-borne disease.
Mosquirix, developed by British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline, is made from ingredients sourced from a rare Chilean evergreen tree. Because of the rare ingredients used in the vaccine it will most likely prevent it from being a long-term solution in the fight against the disease, but is a much needed step to curb the disease.
Malaria is by far the most deadly disease in Africa, killing over 400,000 people per year. More than half of those who die from malaria are children under 5 years old, making a vaccine available for children crucial.
The drug does have its drawbacks however. Over 800,000 vaccines were given to children in Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi on a trial basis since 2019. The drug only reduced severe symptoms, which can lead to death, by 30% in small children. However experts believe that the drug can be “layered” with other anti-malaria tools to expand its protection. Other drawbacks of the vaccine is that it requires a four shot regiment and that effectiveness fades after 6 months.
However, those on the frontlines are praising the vaccine as they believe it will reinvigorate the fight against the disease.
WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called the announcement a “historic moment ” and said the vaccine has the potential to “save tens of thousands of young lives each year.”
Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO’s Africa director, also praised the approval saying, “Today’s recommendation offers a glimmer of hope for the continent, which shoulders the heaviest burden of the disease. And we expect many more African children to be protected from malaria and grow into healthy adults.”
Another vaccine that is currently in trials may even provide more hope in preventing malaria. R21/Matrix-M was tested on 450 children in Burkina Faso with a 77% efficacy rate.
Officials on the continent must now turn their attention to how to effectively finance, produce, and distribute the vaccine in order to get it to the front lines as soon as possible.