Malaria kills more than 400,000 people each year, most of them children under age 5. That may change soon, thanks to a promising vaccine developed by U.S. and other researchers.
Malaria is spread by mosquitos and infects more than 200 million people annually.
The new vaccine, called R21, has proven 77% effective in preventing malaria in children between 5 and 17 months old, according to a study published in the medical journal The Lancet May 15.
“These significant results support our high expectations for the potential of this vaccine,” said University of Oxford’s Adrian Hill, a co-author of the study, noting the results are a major step toward meeting the World Health Organization’s goal of developing a vaccine that is 75% effective (PDF, 2MB) against malaria by 2030. The most effective malaria vaccine previously tested is only 56% effective.
Researchers from the U.S., U.K., Burkina Faso, India and Kenya developed and tested the new vaccine. The promising results are from clinical trials conducted in Burkina Faso and additional testing is underway. The Serum Institute of India has agreed to supply 200 million doses of the vaccine annually “at a very cost-effective price” if it is approved.
The R21 vaccine targets the parasite that causes malaria and includes an immune system booster made by Novavax in Gaithersburg, Maryland.
Dual active ingredient (dual AI) mosquito nets are the next generation of protection vs malaria in places like Liberia, where insecticide resistance is increasing. Here, a team stacks bales of nets to await #LastMile distribution @PMIgov @USAIDLiberia pic.twitter.com/gn1qW9Vd9u
— USAID Global Health Supply Chain (@GHSupplyChain) June 2, 2021
The U.S. government’s fight against malaria is part of its commitment to global health, which also includes the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
The U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative alone:
- Distributed more than 2 billion mosquito nets since 2004 to help stop the spread of malaria.
- Prevented more than 1 billion cases of malaria since 2000.
- Helped save more than 7 million lives, according to the U.S. Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention.
Over two decades, global efforts have saved 7.6 million lives & prevented 1.5 billion cases of malaria. The United States is the largest malaria donor and remains committed on this World Malaria Day to the continued fight against this infectious disease.
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 25, 2021