First pediatric malaria vaccine is heading to field trials
Malawi launches a pilot trial of the first pediatric malaria vaccine — 120,000 children under 2 will be vaccinated.
Malawi launches a pilot trial of the first pediatric malaria vaccine — 120,000 children under 2 will be vaccinated.
A large-scale pilot trial of the world's first vaccine giving young children partial protection from malaria is starting in Malawi (Southern Africa). The vaccine activates the immune system so that the body itself attacks the malaria parasite. Earlier studies showed that nearly 40% of children aged 5–17 months were protected from malaria thanks to the vaccine.
It is known that 120,000 children no older than two years will be vaccinated as part of the Malawi experiment. Similar experiments will also take place in Ghana and Kenya. Scientists caution that 40% efficacy is relatively low compared to vaccines against other diseases. But it is a useful additional protective measure alongside mosquito nets and insecticides.
The new vaccine retains its efficacy for at least seven years. Its focus on children is due to the fact that children most often fall victim to malaria. The vaccine must be administered four times — once a month for three months and once more after 18 months.
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