Large-scale malaria vaccine to be tested in Malawi

What has been named the world’s first malaria vaccine has been given a wide-scale pilot in Malawi to give partial protection to children.

The RTS,S vaccine works by training the immune system to attack the malaria parasite. Earlier trials revealed that nearly 40 per cent of the children who were vaccinated were protected from the disease.

Following ten years of success in combating malaria, cases now appear to be back on the rise, sparking concerns about its resurgence.

The World Health Organisation’s director of immunisations and vaccines, Dr Kate O’Brien, said “This is a landmark moment for immunisations, malaria control, and public health.”

Malawi was chosen as the first of three countries for the pilot to roll out the vaccine, aiming to immunise 120,000 children under the age of two. The vaccine will be introduced in the coming weeks to Kenya and Ghana.

Dr David Schellenberg, who has been working on developing the vaccine with the WHO, said “There were seven countries participating in a large trial where over 15,000 children participated.

“The trial showed pretty clearly that this vaccine is safe and it is efficacious in terms of its ability to prevent clinical malaria episodes and also severe malaria episodes.

“Nobody is suggesting that this is a magic bullet. It may not sound like much, but we’re talking about 40 per cent reduction in severe malaria, which unfortunately still has high mortality even when you have good access to good treatment.”

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Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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