Two new malaria vaccines are being rolled out across Africa – what they do and how they work.

What makes it special?

The long-awaited vaccine was hailed as a breakthrough in science, child health and malaria control. Children under the age of five account for approximately 80% of malaria deaths in Africa.

multiple countries trial The trial, which involved Ghana, Malawi and Kenya, showed that the vaccine is safe, has limited side effects, has a high level of acceptance in affected communities, and is highly effective in rural healthcare settings in Africa. The feasibility of the vaccination program was confirmed.

Approximately 30% of children aged 5 and 17 months who received four doses of RTS,S were prevented from developing severe malaria.

While a 30% prevention rate may seem low, a recent study published in August 2023 in The Lancet Infectious Diseases found that infants should be treated before the rainy season alongside other antimalarial preventive treatments. The administration of RTS,S was shown to substantially reduce malaria. two-thirds.

How far along is the rollout?

From 2019 onwards, 2 million children in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi RTS,S Malaria vaccine vaccinated.

The world's first routine vaccination program using RTS,S started in 2016 cameroon The country provides free vaccines to all infants up to six months of age.This is explained as follows A transformative chapter in the history of public health in Africa.

about 18 million doses Twelve of the vaccines were allocated to 12 African countries. Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Niger, Sierra Leone, and Uganda.

What is a holdup?

WHO has approved and prequalified the vaccine; request This was unprecedented. Manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline cannot produce enough doses.

vaccine and AS01 adjuvant, the compounds used to enhance immune responses have complex synthetic processes. This limits the expected vaccine production to 18 million doses over the next two years.

This is significantly lower than the estimated value 60 million doses It is already on pre-order in many countries where malaria is endemic.

What makes it special?

The R21 vaccine is a significant improvement over the RTS,S vaccine. 75% Effective for over 1 year.

The manufacturing process is not very complicated, so it can be produced in large quantities. The Serum Institute of India, the world's largest vaccine manufacturer, has already established vaccine production capacity. 100 million doses per year. This is great news for the 40 million children born each year in malaria areas of Africa.

The R21/Matrix M vaccine is expected to be highly cost-effective, retailing for between $2 and $4 per dose, comparable in price to other pediatric vaccines used in Africa.

How far along is the R21 vaccine rollout?

Data from a 2020 clinical trial of 450 children aged 5 to 36 months in Burkina Faso confirmed the vaccine's safety and effectiveness in preventing severe disease. 77% 12 months later.

These very encouraging findings have inspired several malaria-endemic African countries, including: ghana and Nigeriaapproving the R21/Matrix M vaccine for use well before the World Health Organization.

The University of Oxford took the proactive step of entering into a manufacturing agreement with the Serum Institute of India, even though it lacked WHO approval and pre-qualification.

This forward-looking approach has ensured that the first batch of R21 vaccines will be available later this year.

The Serum Institute will double the production of doses in 2025, easing some of the demand for the RTS,S vaccine and ensuring that vulnerable young African children in high-burden areas are protected against malaria. We are committed to ensuring that

What is a holdup?

Without WHO approval and pre-qualification, several international organizations, including UNICEF and the Vaccine Alliance Gavi, could not finance the procurement or production of vaccines.

Finally, WHO Approved and pre-qualified R21/Matrix M will be used in the last quarter of 2023.

The vaccine is expected to be introduced in several African countries. May 2024.