Historic go-ahead given for malaria vaccine to protect children in Africa

Children across most of Africa are to be immunised against malaria in a historic moment in the fight against the fatal disease.

 

The vaccine, RTS, S, was proven to be effective six years ago and now, following successful pilot vaccination programmes in Kenya, Ghana and Malawi, the World Health Organisation have said it should be rolled out across sub-Saharan Africa and in other regions with a moderate to high malaria transmission.

 

Director-general of WHO, Dr Tedros Adhanom, said this was “a historic moment”.

 

“The long-awaited malaria vaccine for children is a breakthrough for science, child health and malaria control.  It could save tens of thousands of young lives each year.”

 

Dr Pedro Alonso, director of the WHO Global Malaria Programme, said “From a scientific perspective, this is a massive breakthrough, from a public health perspective this is a historical feat.

 

“We’ve been looking for a malaria vaccine for over 100 years now, it will save lives and prevent disease in African children.”

 

The vaccine is not planned to replace all other measures for controlling malaria, such as insecticide-treated bed nets.  It will instead be used alongside them in order to get closer to the goal of zero deaths from the disease.

 

Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist team of clinical negligence lawyers have years of experience in medical negligence claims, providing support and guidance after life-changing events.  Not only do we represent clients in Yorkshire, but because of our reputation we also represent clients nationally.

 

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Posted by Karen Motley, 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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