The World Health Organisation, WHO, on 6 October, 2021 approved the use of RTS, S vaccine for children in regions with moderate to high levels of malaria transmission.
The vaccine known by the brand name, Mosquirix, is effective against P. falciparum, a deadly specie of the malaria-causing parasite, Plasmodium, borne by mosquitoes.
This is the first ever malaria vaccine to be approved in the world.
WHO Director-general, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, says trials were conducted in Kenya, Ghana and Malawi since 2019 on 800,000 children.
The vaccine which has an efficacy level of 50% is administered to children 5 to 17 months old in 3 doses and a 4th dose, 18 months later.
GSK, the vaccine manufacturers, say it will be supplied at the cost plus 5% charge.
Experts, while welcoming the vaccine however, advise that malaria prevention measures, like use of insecticide-treated bed nets, should continue in the fight against malaria.
UNICEF says a child under 5 years old dies from malaria every two minutes in the world.
About 290 million cases of malaria are reported yearly, worldwide.
At least 94% of them are in Africa resulting in 400,000 deaths every year.
photo credit: cnbc, bbc
