The World Health Organization (WHO) has endorsed broad use of RTS, S or Mosquirix – world’s first malaria vaccine for children. This vaccine was first tested and proven effective 6 years ago. WHO had delayed approval of this vaccine due to the complexity of deploying the mandatory 4 doses over a period of 18 months and efficacy being just 32%. However, after reviewing the pilot vaccination programs in Malawi, Ghana and Kenya, WHO has now officially recommended deploying the vaccines for broad use in predominantly the child population of sub-Saharan Africa.
It is being estimated that full vaccination would save the life of one in every 230 children. Director General of WHO, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, addressed this as a “historic moment.” He said that “This long-awaited malaria vaccine for children is a breakthrough for science, child health, and malaria control.” There are more than 100 types of malaria parasites. RTS, S protects against Plasmodium falciparum, which is the deadliest and most common malaria parasite in Africa. 95% of malaria cases and deaths are in Africa. Children under five are the most affected by it. Glaxo has been producing the vaccine and would be supplying to India as well.
