WHO recommends second malaria vaccine for children, rollout early next year

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a recommendation for a second malaria vaccine, potentially providing countries with a more affordable and readily available option compared to the first malaria vaccine. The R21/Matrix-M vaccine, developed by Oxford University in the United Kingdom, has been deemed effective in curbing the life-threatening disease transmitted by certain mosquitoes.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced the approval of the new malaria vaccine based on the advice of two expert groups, specifically recommending its use in children at risk of contracting the disease. Tedros expressed his excitement, stating, “As a malaria researcher, I used to dream of the day we would have a safe and effective vaccine against malaria. Now we have two.”

Manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, the R21/Matrix-M vaccine has already received approval for use in Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Nigeria. The vaccine is set to be rolled out in these African countries in early 2024, with availability in other nations expected by mid-2024. Tedros mentioned that the cost of each dose would range from $2 to $4.

The WHO is currently reviewing the vaccine for prequalification, which would enable global vaccine alliance GAVI and UNICEF to purchase the vaccine from manufacturers. The development of the three-dose vaccine by Oxford University, in collaboration with the Serum Institute of India, has shown efficacy of over 75 percent, with protection lasting for at least one year when a booster is administered.

It is important to note that neither of the available malaria vaccines can completely halt transmission, meaning that immunization campaigns alone will not be sufficient to prevent epidemics. Efforts to combat the disease are further complicated by reports of increasing drug resistance and the spread of invasive mosquito species.

In addition to the malaria vaccine recommendation, the WHO has also endorsed Takeda Pharmaceuticals’ vaccine for dengue, specifically for children aged six to 16 living in areas where the infection poses a significant public health concern. Dengue is a viral infection transmitted by mosquitoes, commonly found in tropical and subtropical climates. Takeda’s vaccine, known as Qdenga, has demonstrated effectiveness against all four serotypes of the virus in individuals previously infected with dengue.

However, there remains uncertainty regarding its performance against serotypes 3 and 4 in individuals who have not been previously infected. This recommendation comes as Bangladesh continues to grapple with an ongoing dengue epidemic, with nearly 1,000 deaths reported this year.

The WHO’s strategic advisory group has also suggested a simplified single-dose regimen for primary immunization for most COVID-19 vaccines. This recommendation aims to improve vaccine acceptance, particularly as a significant portion of the population has already experienced at least one prior infection.

As the WHO continues to prioritize global health initiatives, the introduction of these vaccines and recommendations marks significant progress in the fight against malaria and dengue, two diseases that have a substantial impact on public health worldwide.