First Malaria Vaccine Approved by WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday endorsed the first malaria vaccine ‘Mosquirix’ , which could prevent the deaths of tens of thousands of children a year. 

To have a malaria vaccine that is safe, moderately effective and ready for distribution is “a historic event,” said Dr. Pedro Alonso, director of the WHO global malaria program.  

The new vaccine, even with modest efficacy, is considered as the best new development in the battle against malaria in decades, some experts said. 

Studies show that malaria kills about half a million people each year, nearly all of them in sub-Saharan Africa — including 260,000 children under 5. 

The new vaccine, made by GlaxoSmithKline, rouses a child’s immune system to beat Plasmodium falciparum, the deadliest of five malarial pathogens and the most of which are prevalent in Africa.

Mosquirix is given in three doses between ages 5 and 17 months, and a fourth dose roughly 18 months later. 

Clinical trials shows that the GlaxoSmithKline vaccine was about 50% effective against severe malaria in the first year, but that fell to close to zero by the fourth year, the New York Times reported.

After the clinical trials, vaccine was incorporated into routine immunization programs in Kenya, Malawi and Ghana. So far, more than 2.3 million doses have been given to more than 800,000 children in those countries. That boosted the percentage of children protected against malaria in some way to more than 90%, from less than 70%.

Another recent trial shows that the combination of the vaccine and preventive drugs are effective and provide protection in children during high malaria transmission seasons. This dual approach was found to be much more effective at preventing severe disease, hospitalization and death than either method alone, the New York Times reported.